The founders of western civilisation

The Maker

According to the information on the box that came with the cards, the present deck was published by Gripon and sold under the title ‘Cartes Héroïques’ at all “Papetiers et Bureaux de Tabac”. Gripon was a printer active in Paris in the mid-nineteenth century, with premises at 24 Rue Rambuteau. The lithographer’s name is identified on the Ace of Spades as Arouy.

The Cards

A wide range of themes are illustrated on the present cards, which together can be said to outline and depict the foundations of western civilisation. Each Ace card shows two scenes from biblical stories, such as the murder of Abel by his brother Cain, while the Kings represent great leaders, heroes and inventors, such as Julius Caesar and Charlemagne. The Queens show female warriors, and the Jacks warlords from across history.

The value of the pip cards is shown not by the number of suit marks, but by the number of portraits of great men. Among them are composers, painters, statesmen and scientists, such as William Shakespeare, Isaac Newton and George Washington.

The lithography is done in black and gold, and hand colour has then been applied in red and blue, giving the present cards a particularly distinctive look.

GRIMAUD, B[aptiste]-P[aul]

Jeu Impérial.

Publication Paris, Grimaud, 1858.

Description

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

Dimensions 85 by 55mm (3.25 by 2.25 inches).

References Guiard 154; van den Bergh pp.102-103; Yale 2587/FRA287.

Game of Thrones

The Maker

The Jack of Clubs shows the maker’s name to be “B. P. Grimaud”. For a description of Baptiste-Paul Grimaud, see item 50.

The Cards

Grimaud published the present deck under the title ‘Jeu Impérial’, since it is dedicated to the four most important superpowers of the age, each one of which is represented by a suit. The Aces show the coats-of-arms of the respective country and identify it by name, while the King and Queen cards represent the monarchs, naturally dressed in sumptuous furs and fabrics:

Clubs – France, Emperor Napoleon III & Eugenie Diamonds – Austria, Emperor Frans Joseph & Elisabeth Hearts – England, Prince Albert & Queen Victoria Spades – Russia, Tsar Alexander II and Maria Alexandrovna

[ANONYMOUS]

[Landmakers of Frankfurt playing cards].

Publication [Germany, c1860].

Description

52 engraved playing cards with fine original hand-colour, blue printed pattern to verso.

Dimensions 86 by 59mm (3.5 by 2.25 inches).

References Van den Bergh p.61.

A souvenir of Frankfurt

The Maker

We have not been able to identify any details about the maker of this deck.

The Cards

Crafted during the years of the nineteenth century when Frankfurt was a fully sovereign city state, in between its domination by the Napoleonic Empire and its annexation to Prussia in 1866, these cards celebrate the city’s architecture, with each Ace card depicting two cityscapes showing Frankfurt’s famous buildings and monuments:

Club – Romerberg and Fahrthor

Diamond – Zeil and Rossmarkt

Heart – St Katharinen and Kirche Eschenheimr Thurm Spade – Ariadne and Bibliothek

The court cards, painted in bold colours, are in the double-figure format that had become prominent during the early nineteenth century. The suit marks appear in the upper left and lower right corner on the court cards, and in the centre of the Aces.

B. DONDORF G.M.B.H.

No 25 Patience-Karten.

Publication

Frankfurt am Main, c1860.

Description

52 chromolithograph miniature playing cards, red printed ornithological scene printed to versos, contained within red printed paper box labelled “Whist a 52 Blatt.”.

Dimensions 55 by 37mm (2.25 by 1.5 inches).

Patience in miniature

The Maker

Bernard J. Dondorf was born in Frankfurt on 19 March, 1809, the son of Jewish immigrants. After serving his apprenticeship at C. Naumann printers, he opened a lithographic printing business in 1833. Playing cards were first mentioned in advertisements in 1839, with the first packs produced in the 1840s by steel engraving and stencil-coloured lithography. In 1853 he purchased a steam engine and gradually increased his output of playing cards under the name “B. Dondorf, Frankfurt a. M.” In 1871 Dondorf opened a new factory in Bockenheimer Landstrasse. In 1872 he retired leaving the business in the hands of his sons who continued to expand the business and build new factories.

The Cards

The Aces are decorated with cherubim, with the picture cards decorated with twee rosy-cheeked figures bearing various accoutrements.

DONDORF, Bernhard

Cartes Comiques.

Publication [Frankfurt, Bernhard Dondorf, c1860].

Description

52 chromolithograph playing cards, purple and gold vignette to versos.

Dimensions 93 by 64mm (3.75 by 2.5 inches).

References Van den Bergh pp.216-217; Yale 2913/ GER511.