Italy follows suit

The Maker

Although his imprint is not found on any of the cards, the present deck is thought to be the work of Conrad Johann Jegel. For a description of Jegel, please see item 67.

The Cards

The unification of Italy in 1871 inspired the present deck of cards. The Risorgimento unfolded across the nineteenth century as the Italian states became increasingly concerned about their defences against the powerful Austria-Hungarian Empire. After decades of negotiations, conflicts and alliances, Italy was finally unified in 1871, when Rome was made its capital and Victor Emanuel its first king. Each Ace card shows two scenic views of notable cities and regions across Italy, with the suit mark in between:

Clubs – Rome & Genoa

Diamonds – Naples & Caprera

Hearts – Palermo & Turin

Spades – Messina & Gaeta

The double-figure court cards show various important people connected to the unification:

Clubs – Victor Emanuel, Queen Victoria, Bixio, Cialdini

Diamonds – Garibaldi, personification of Italia, Camillo Benso di Cavour Hearts – Franz II, Marie, Persano/Bosco Spades – Louis Napoleon III, Eugene, Lamarmora, Fanti

[ANONYMOUS] [Animal playing cards].

Publication [?Germany, ?1873].

Description

32 engraved playing cards with fine original hand-colour.

Dimensions 92 by 62mm (3.5 by 2.5 inches).

References Van den Bergh pp.182-183.

The Maker

The original deck of cards published with the present design was the work of Braun & Schneider, a printing company that operated from Munich during the latter half of the nineteenth century. Along with its playing cards, the firm was well-known for the series of plates it published from 1861 to 1890 in its magazine, illustrating historic and contemporary fashions. The maker of this pirated edition is not identified on the cards, and we have been unable to trace any other information about him.

The Cards

In 1852, Braun & Schneider published a deck with transformation cards which proved so popular that a number of other card-makers appropriated the design, among them Frommann & Bunte (see item 97). Likewise, the present example includes pip and court cards taken from Braun & Schneider’s legendary deck, including the cheeky inverted-heart-cum-bottom!

A remarkable change occurs, however, on the court cards of the diamond and heart suits: the heads of the royal characters have been replaced by those of animals. The Queen of Hearts, for instance, has become a pigeon and the King of Diamonds a lion. It is not at all clear why the maker has chosen to modify the cards in such a bizarre way, but it certainly does help to distinguish the deck from other facsimiles of Braun & Schneider’s.

While the maker of this deck remains unknown, there is much speculation around the subject, with Daveluy from Belgium and Wüst from Germany being mentioned as possible candidates. Similarly, there is no definite proof of its origin, and the frequently cited year of publication, 1873, has yet to be soundly substantiated.

WÜST, Conrad Ludwig

[Landmarks of Switzerland playing cards].

Publication [Frankfurt, C.L. Wüst, c1875].

Description

52 engraved playing cards with fine original hand-colour, blue printed hexagon and dot pattern to versos.

Dimensions 89 by 60mm (3.5 by 2.25 inches).

References

Guiard 16; van den Bergh p.71.

The Maker For a description of C.L. Wüst, please see item number 41.

The Cards

A souvenir for travellers in Switzerland, to which Thomas Cook & Co., had recently started offering guided holidays. The country’s iconic and idyllic landscapes are captured on the Ace cards, each of which shows two scenic views, specifically:

Club – Berne/Chapelle de Guillaume Tell Diamond – Rigi Staffel/Neuchatel

Heart – Lausanne/Interlaken

Spade – Thoune/Vevey

The double-figured court cards show natives from the various regions of Switzerland wearing typical dress. In the upper right corner above them the crest and name of the region appears, and in the opposite corner is the suit mark. Kings are distinguished from Jacks by the crowns surmounting the suit marks. It is interesting that the deck uses the French pattern rather than the Swiss, which perhaps made the cards more appealing to foreign travellers.

FLINZER, Fedor

Ovale Salon-spielkarten.

Publication [Leipzig, A.Twietmeyer, c1877].

Description

32 oval-shaped chromolithograph playing cards, stamp to one, maroon hexagonal pattern to versos, contained withn decorative printed paper oval case.

Dimensions 104 by 69mm (4 by 2.75 inches).

References

Van den Bergh p.235; Yale 2986/GER583.