Early Rouennais card fragments (mounted on card). These are in the Rouen export pattern that would have been used in the UK at that time, and which was to be adopted as the basis for the English standard pattern. The maker Jean Faucil is identified via the markings on the jacks. He is known to have been working in the period around 1540-1555.
This pack by T Wheeler dates from around 1810. It looks like an earlier ace, but the "Exportation" lettering has been scratched out below the maker's name. One imagines this may have been done in-period, by someone returning with exported cards from abroad, wishing to sell them cards back home...
This is a Faro/ Bassett style pack by Hall and Son, in good condition and well-printed (these smaller pictures presented something of a challenge to the printing techniques of the era).
A rare Llewellyn: 6d addl. duty shows that this was made during the period 1776-1789. 20 cards have survived including 7 courts. The unfortunate stripped band on The Ace of Spades was probably relatively recent, when an old rubber band was removed.
an early HART showing no addl. duty, a deck of 32 cards made around 1768
May 2010
Some new additions including some early Dougherty
These look similar in style to the earlier cards by Crehore
The Grimaud pack is also interesting
Early Dougherty (c.1850) - Ace as Illustrated I73
March 2010
A relatively unusual pattern by Bancks Brothers,
the type is HB4.
This pack is missing its Ace of Spades,
which would have been an Old Frizzle
March 2010
Two Sets of Cards from the Fitzwilliam Museum Cambridge
Ludlow / T. Wheeler 'Patent Knights' cards circa 1800. These Feature special aces: T Wheeler's name is on the registered Ace of Spades and Ludlow's name, as publisher, is on the redesigned ace of clubs). Note the 'double-ended' index pips on both ends of the full-length courts... These don't really work since the pip placements are the traditional half left and half right.
A pack by James English with Ace "1.1" dating from 1867-1870
An early pack from J Y Humphreys, a pioneering US manufacturer. For more information see The Hochman Encyclopedia of American Playing Cards by Tom and Judy Dawson.
An unusual design by Victor Mauger. The extensive use of bright yellow suggests that this pack emulates the gold-decorated or ' illuminated' cards of this era. This pack is also described in The Hochman Encyclopedia of American Playing Cards
A very rare - quite possibly unique - and characterful set by John Young of 54 Capel Street, Dublin. According to Mike Goodall's research on the Irish makers, this is probably dated 1824-1828. It has a good wrapper (one side as illustrated) that you will see on the site too. The tax stamps on the AS and the wrapper both give George III while the picture on the wrapper is Geo IV. It is quite likely that the Irish makers continued using stock of George III aces after 1820 (when George III died) as did the London makers. Then the picture of George IV may have been to modernise them in the early to mid 1820s.
April 2009
Very Early Hunt - i.e. without 'successors to Gibson' or '& son' with 6d added twice so 1789-1801. Hunt more likely towards end of that period (see IPCS paper on taxation by John Berry). Appearance like Gibson/ & Gisborne and note the x on the KH sword- appears in later Hunts and not other makers.
April 2009
Maker unknown. A double set apparently for patience (certainly so if the box is original, as it appears from the good fit). Likely around 1830 or so from the fairly primitive woodblock courts, but there are pattern backs and a (probably Victorian) box. Yellow Complete, Green 46/52 missing 2C 2H 4H 2S 3S QS.
April 2009
An 'Illuminated' variant of De La Rue style D2, very lavishly done including backs. The illumination refers to the addition of gold paint to many of the lines. Date estimated as 1840.
April 2009
Mint Dougherty Indicator from 1895 (date is from the tax stamp on the original box, illustrated left). The design dates from 1885 when presumably demand for clear indexes on US cards was growing. Type AD15a.
April 2009
Caterson & Brotz 'Novelty' - A rare US maker and a very well-presented set. Type L36 from around 1885.
April 2009
Very attractive illuminated set from Dougherty (missing 2S ), This is type AD3 of circa 1865.
There is also a copy of this set in the facsimiles section
This is L I Cohen's so-called "Highlander" pattern as reproduced by US Games. The name may come from the plaid or tartan back design. Hochman type is NY3 and it dates from around 1862.
There is also a copy of this set in the facsimiles section