The standard pattern of Neuchâtel

The Maker

The name of the maker, Urs Fûrst, is found on the wrapper of another example of the present deck. Fûrst was a small-scale card-maker active in Flumenthal, in the Swiss canton of Solothurn during the early nineteenth century. We have not been able to trace any further information about him or his firm.

The Cards

Shown is the standard pattern produced in Neuchâtel, another Swiss canton with a number of prominent card-makers, such as Rochias, although with full-length rather than double-figure court cards. Nevertheless, the images on the court cards show the same design that is commonly found on “standard” playing cards today. These stylised Kings, Queens and Jacks in blue, yellow and red would become increasingly prominent across playing cards until they became customary.

The Aces of all suits have the same floral motif and colour framing the central suit mark, and the value of the pip cards is indicated by the number of suit marks shown on each one.

[ANONYMOUS]

[Chivalric code playing cards].

Publication

Tübingen, J. G. Cotta, 1811.

Description

52 engraved playing cards with fine original hand-colour, here together with printed almanack.

Dimensions 97 by 69mm (3.75 by 2.75 inches).

References

Hargrave p.146; van den Bergh pp.146-149.

The Maker

There are no details about the artist who designed or drew the cards for the present deck. For a description of the Cotta publishing firm, please see item 19.

The Cards

Following the failure of its 1810 playing cards, the Cotta firm returned to standard form the next year with a deck more akin to their earlier products. The court cards are focused on the theme of orders of knighthood, and are among the most visually appealing produced by the company.

Club – Prince ou Chef de l’Ordre du Croissant; Chevalière de l’Amaranthe; Chevalier de l’Ordre de St George Diamond – Ordre de l’Elephant de Dannemarc; Chevalière de la Hache; Chevalier de l’Ordre de St Lazare Heart – Templier en Habit de Guerre; Amazone; Chevalier de l’Ordre du Porcepic Spade – Ordre de l’Amaranthende Suede, institue par Christine de Suede; Chevaliere de l’Echarpe; Chevalier de L’ordre de St. Catherine du Mont Sinai

Like all Cotta decks, the pip and Ace cards are distinguished by their novel designs that incorporate the suit marks into the background image. Here, we see heart symbols serving as a cupid’s wings, a club as the top of a bird cage, an inverted spade as an urn and a diamond as a sleeping cap.

ALEGRE, Manuel

[Peoples of the Continents playing cards].

Publication

Madrid, Andres Castellanos, 1811.

Description

40 engraved playing cards with fine original hand-colour, lattice and asterisk pattern to versos.

Dimensions 83 by 53mm (3.25 by 2 inches).

References

Van den Bergh p.72; Yale 132/SPA58.

Clubs, coins, cups and swords

The Maker

The engraver’s name is found on a caption on one of the Ace cards, which reads ‘Grabada en Madrid por Manl Alegre en 1811’. Manuel Alegre was active in Madrid in the early years of the nineteenth century, mainly producing portraits and landscape views; these appear to have been his only foray into the field of playing cards.

The Cards

The present deck is the result of a collaboration between Manuel Alegre and publisher Andrés Castellanos. The four standard Spanish suits are here each associated with a continent:

Clubs - Africa

Coins - America

Cups - Asia

Swords - Europe

Each card is intricately illustrated, with appropriate flora and fauna inhabiting the landscape backgrounds. The court cards show full-length figures representing the natives of their respective continents, while the number cards follow the Spanish suits of clubs, coins, cups and swords, with their value represented by illustrations of their respective objects. Some also have additional vignettes, such as Four of Clubs, which shows Hercules fighting a lion with his own club. Only one other copy, which is uncoloured, is known to be in private

NIXON, John [Metastasis].

Publication

London, S. & T. Fuller, 1811.

Description

52 engraved playing cards with fine original hand-colour, versos plain.

Dimensions

95 by 65mm (3.75 by 2.5 inches).

References

Van den Bergh pp.152-153; Yale 2280/ ENG134.