home - cards from Hannover - taxes - collection - societies - my publications |
This pack was made in the late 18th century, most probably in Northern Germany. A good guess might be Lübeck, where similar cards have been produced.
There are crescents on the King of Diamonds' breast and sceptre. This might be a sign of the maker. I have not yet found out, but I have seen the same on another anonymous pack.
Update: Now that I have seen several more similar packs I think that the crescents on the breast might just as well be 'Golden Fleece' orders misunderstood by the engraver, as they are sometimes shown on the breasts of Kings, e.g. on the King of Diamonds of a Whist pack from Germany.
The pattern is derived from the Paris pattern ('provincial variant'). Note that the usual names have been omitted from the court cards.