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Click here to subscribeThomas de la Rue & Co Ltd Alice in Wonderland vintage playing cards, "Manufacturers to his Majesty", complete set of 48, arranged in sixteen sets of three, with a leading card naming the other two, plus rules (both cards), Good Plus to Excellent; adapted from Sir John Tenniel's original designs, with Fair to Fair Plus box.
A REGENCY MAHOGANY CARD TABLEEARLY 19TH CENTURYthe canted swivel and hinged top with a reeded edge revealing a baize lined playing surface on four baluster turned supports on ribbed scroll legs, terminating in foliate cast brass caps and castors77.5cm high, 91.5cm wide, 45.5cm deepProvenancePurchased by the current vendor from T. G. Wilkinson Antiques Ltd. Petworth, 13th August 2014.
λ A SWISS ROSEWOOD MUSICAL BOXBY NICOLE FRERES, MID-19TH CENTURYwith boxwood stringing, one end hinged to reveal 'Repeat/Change', 'Start/Stop/ and 'Instant Stop' levers, the 10 3/4" brass cylinder playing six airs, with a one-piece comb stamped 'Nicole Freres', the key-wound mechanism stamped 'Nicole Freres A Geneve' and the serial number '28014', with a card label inscribed 'Gamme No. 826'13cm high, 45.1cm wide, 16.5cm deep
SIX GERMAN HAND-COLOURED FORTUNE-TELLING CARDSLATE 18TH CENTURYdepicting figures and scenes beneath playing card designs, framed, together with a French pen and ink design for a 'transformation' Ten of Hearts card, mid-19th century, framed (2)27 x 27cm frame size (max)ProvenanceGerman Fortune Telling Cards - a note verso states 'Bought Stanley Gibbons 7.79 £40'.'Transformation' design - paperwork accompanying this items states 'Sothebys, 28 July 1981, lot 189 (part), bought by Stanley Gibbons £450', from whom purchased by the current vendor.
Cigarette cards, USA, Kinney Transparent Playing cards, 90 cards, various backs 45 cards with '52 subjects' back, 19 cards with '53 subjects' back, 20 cards with 'Read your Fortune' backs, 6 cards with No title on the backs. Every card within each back group is different, if all the groups are combined, 51/52 playing card fronts can be made (missing Queen Hearts), (fair / gd)
A Nicole Freres cylinder musical box with key wind, no.22691, plain walnut cased, 26.5cm cylinder, stamped brass frame, playing six airs listed on a tune card to lid, three operating levers to left side 45cm wideThe movement is indeed quite tuneful, and runs for a reasonable time after winding, but the centre lever does not seem to work. The case is rather plain.
A Dutch marquetry mahogany and satinwood inlaid card table, late18th/early 19th century, the rectangular folding top with projected corners and foliate inlay, opening to a playing surface inlaid with crossed clay pipes and playing cards, further opening to a compartmented interior, fronted by a single frieze drawer and a pair of faux drawers, with an elongated drawer to the side, all upon tapering and fluted legs of square section, 75cm H x 77cm W x 38cm D
A pair of 20th Century Pilkington tiles decorated at Poole Pottery, each decorated by Lindsay Cole with later interpretations of the Cookery series designed by Claire Wallis, one with an apple, one with fish in pastel colours to a white glazed ground, signed in monogram, together with an earlier Poole Pottery tile screen printed with figures on horse back by Reginald Till and Peggy Thomas, and a 1950s Carter tile transfer printed with a playing card on simulated wood effect ground. (4)
A RARE PAIR OF CHINESE EXPORT BLACK LACQUER AND GILT DECORATED FOLDING CARD TABLES EARLY 19TH CENTURY Each with D-shaped hinged top enclosing a baize-lined playing surface, decorated overall with Chinoiserie trellis and scrolling vines, the top, frieze and sides centred by oval medallions decorated with Chinese landscape and architectural scenes each 77cm high, 91cm wide, 44.5cm deep Provenance: Purchased Christie's London, 3rd December 1970, Lot 96 These elegant games tables demonstrate the success of the Chinese export trade in combining Asian art with Western forms to appeal to the European market during the 18th and 19th centuries. Lacquered furniture was being made in such centres as Nanking, Tonking and Canton, following Western forms copied from examples sent to China or from printed European designs. It reached a high point of production and popularity with the Western trade during the early 19th century, when these examples were made. While Western designs were being copied, these games tables are unusual in their demi-lune form. Carl Crossman in his The Decorative Arts of The China Trade describes a pair of tables that may be this very pair, although unfortunately they are not illustrated. A related pair of tables with similar decoration was sold, Christie's, London, Wilton Crescent, A Robert Kime Interior, 23rd July 2020, Lot 121 (£27,500) Condition Report: Both with the marks, knocks, scratches and abrasions commensurate with age and use. Surfaces with flaking, marks, losses and cracks - see images. Various old repairs where the legs meet the friezes - see images. Various old metal supporting brackets between the backs of the legs/undersides of the tables. Some fragility to the joints of the legs/movement within the frames. Some later timber batons to the undersides of the tables/interior of carcasses. Later baize surfaces to the interiors of the tables. These have the expected minor wear.Please refer to additional images for visual reference to condition. Condition Report Disclaimer
A WALNUT CONCERTINA ACTION CARD TABLE CIRCA 1725 AND LATER The folding burr walnut top opening to reveal a gros and petit point needlework playing surface decorated with playing cards 72.8cm high, 90cm wide, 44.7cm deep Provenance: Sotheby's, Groombridge Place, Kent, 15th and 16th September 1992, Lot 30 Please note, the dating for this lot has been revised and differs from that shown in the printed catalogue. This table should be dated as CIRCA 1725 AND LATER. Condition Report: Marks, scratches and abrasions comensurate with age and useSome old chips and splits, various old repairs comensurate with age and use, some fading and wear. Some replaced veneers in areas throughout including sections of the size friezes, rear friezes and other areas (please see additional images) Some slight movement/ warping to the top but in part due to construction of the top this would seem very possible to resolve. Placing the table in a warm/ hot position would increase the chances of the top of the table remaining warped or warping further/ again.Some lifting at the edges of some veneers. Where the 'veneer' is lifting at one corner of the top it is thick veneer. The drawer front (behind the walnut veneer) is mahogany. The floor of the lining of the same drawer is also mahogany as are the struts forming the frame to support the drawer (see additional images.) As they are mahogany and looking at them, they would appear certainly to be additions/ replacements. The handle to the drawer is a replacement, there are an alternate pair of holes for a previous handle. It may be concluded that the whole of the drawer is an addition however soem elemnts of the drawer and the surrounding areas may suggest a drawer was always there. The rear corner hinges of the interior of the frame and the hooks that secure the extended action into place are likely later associated replacements The needlework panel to the interior is possibly of 19th or early 20th century period. It bears some wear, some dirt, various old repairs and some losses (please see additional images) It also bear various fading and discolorationSome old worm damage, including to the base of feet. There is various re-tipping/ splicing to the feet. (see additional images)Please refer to all additional images for visual reference to condition. Condition Report Disclaimer
Mixed lot of silver and metalware including two silver backed dressing mirror, set of six silver egg spoons, two silver salt spoons, cased set of four coffee spoons with playing card suite finials, other silver spoons together with white metal South East Asian dressing table mirror, brush and trinket pot plus Norwegian spoonCondition ReportGlass in mirrors with light surface scratches, one with tiny nibbles to edge. General wear and tear.
Collection of silver items including a Victorian silver salt, Sheffield 1880, a George V ashtray in the form of a playing card club, Birmingham 1929, two George V silver trinket dishes, Chester 1924 and a pair of cruets, Birmingham 1943, total silver weight 6ozt, a pair of silver capped glass scent bottles, another scent bottle lacking stopper, with silver rim, a silver trumpet-shaped bud vase and a white metal goblet
A collectors lot to include; a framed and glazed early to mid 20th century "Cars of the Road" jig-saw puzzle of The Austin Seven with original box (wear and loss in places commensurate to age), a similar framed and glazed jig-saw titled "Off For A Holiday In A Morris-Oxford Car", a framed and glazed collection of mixed early to mid 20th century badges including Mayo's Tobacco, Kingbolt etc, a framed and glazed playing card jig-saw by Heller, Austria, and a small framed and glazed diorama of a lady and dog sitting at table. Further details: age related wear and loss to jig-saws, box etc, some wear to frames.
A COLLECTION OF SCENT BOTTLES, A BUNNY MEASURING TAPE AND A VICTORIAN PLAYING CARD BOX (9)19th Century and Later Comprising a cinnabar scent bottle, 6.5cm high, a silver-mounted teardrop shaped bottle, a gilt-metal chatelaine scent bottle, a small gilt-metal scent bottle decorated with stars, a gilt-metal rabbit measuring tape holder, 5.5cm long, a letter opener, a mother-of-pearl card case, an enamelled portrait in a brass frame and a brass mounted table card box, 26.5cm wide
A VICTORIAN BURR WALUT CARD TABLE, the swivel fold over top, enclosing a green baize playing field, turned supports, raised on cabriole legs and ceramic castors, united by a turned stretcher, width 96cm x depth 76cm x height 84cm (condition report: marks, scuffs, ring marks, discolouration, veneer lifting, other wear and usage)
Interesting collection of early 20thc Ballycastle Golf Club postcards (9) a good cross-section of members playing to include a rare post card of Cmdr A M Causton RN (founder of the club and captain in 1903 and 1921) v Jasper Brett Johnston (winner President's prize in 1924 at Royal County Down); another with ladies driving from 'Tennis Hole' on the ladies course, plus others of the clubhouse, golf Pavilion, and other scenes on the links - 4x used dated 1904 (clipped), 1905, 1909, and 1925 - issued by M&L National Series, "The Milton Series, and Arthur Spence Ballycastle
A KRISHNA RASLILA ILLUSTRATION: KRISHNA AND RADHA DANCING TOGETHER WITH THE GOPIS AN EYE FOR DETAIL: PROPERTY FROM A PRIVATE ESTATE IN NORTHERN LONDON Possibly Bundi or Mewar (Udaipur), Rajasthan, North-Western India, late 18th - early 19th centuryOpaque pigments, ink, and gold on wove paper laid on cream cardboard, the large vertical-format composition reminiscent of an album page with the central field occupied by a typical Krishna Raslila (or Raasleela) illustration featuring concentric circles of cowherd girls (gopis) playing music and dancing around Krishna and Radha, the beloved couple portrayed in the centre inside a golden circle, an emblem of both their unity and spirituality, the tall tree and blue and white canopy with a low bed and cushions in the background alluding to the lovers' union and their blossoming, long-lasting love for each other; the outer album border paired with the Raslila illustration, laid as well on card, featuring concentric decorative floral bands and white-speckled red rules, the widest band with a gold and polychrome-painted grid in-filled with red flowers surrounded by their budding green leaves, the reverse plain except for concentric polychrome rules around an empty field, 51cm x 37cm. 51cm x 37cm Qty: 1
An Asprey snakeskin covered vanity case, a Chinese black lacquered box containing four various further boxes and various playing cards, a black lacquered and Japanned lidded box containing another set of playing cards, a collection of various marbles, three stamp albums and contents of various British and World stamps, a Polish ukulele, various other card games, dominoes, brass fire dogs, brass trivet etc
* French playing cards. Aluette type II deck, Napoléon-Vendée: Biziére aîné, circa 1860, 47 (of 48, without ace of coins) stencil coloured wood engraved playing cards (Spanish suits), jacks marked France, kings Biziére aîné, and cavalières Napoléon-Vendée, 2 of swords with maker's advertisement and Fabrique a Napoléon V'dee, aces and luettes numbered, cards lightly bowed, dusty, some toning, brown marks or stains, especially to 3 of swords and 2 of coins, 6 of coins with small chip to upper edge, square corners (lightly rounded from use), versos blue dots and foliate pattern, each card 82 x 54 mm, together with Aluette type II deck, Nantes: Etienne Massè Jeune (son?), circa 1840, 44 (of 48, without jack & 4 clubs, 5 & 7 coins) stencil coloured wood engraved playing cards (Spanish suits), jacks stamped Nantes, cavalières France, maker's name on king of swords, maker's address on 2 of swords, lightly bowed, 2 of swords with small finger-mark, square corners, versos dark brown marbled cells, each card 80 x 54 mm, plus Aluette type II deck, Angers: Dieudonne & Cie (2nd pattern), circa 1930, a complete deck of 48 colour lithographed playing cards (Spanish suits), maker's details to all courts, ace of coins and 2 of swords, French 1890 tax stamp to 2 of swords (used 1890-1917 and 1922-1940), 5 cups and ace swords each with a single brown spot (that to AS on left edge), rounded gilt corners, versos red foliate pattern, each card 89 x 56 mm, with another aluette deck by Grimaud, circa 1942, 48 cards complete, tax stamp on 2 of swords (used 1940-1944), versos red & black tartan, a quantity of cards from each deck mounted with photo corners onto 4 display boards (42 x 59.5 cm and similar), encapsulated in clear plastic (none examined out of boards), the remainder in plastic bagsQTY: (4)NOTE:Provenance: Collection of Dudley Ollis.First item: Verame 1989, p.176. See also aluette.net for this pattern by Biziére fils aîné, which apparently is identical to the 2nd aluette pattern produced by H. Roinè aîné.Second item: BNF Identifier: ark:/12148/btv1b105158757.
* French playing cards. Cartes Royales, 2nd edition, Paris: Widow Dambrin, 1817, a complete piquet deck of 32 stencil coloured engraved playing cards (French suits), single-figure named courts designed by Armand-Gustave Houbigant, the courts with small indices to lower right corners, JS sword lettered 'Durendarda', JD and JC with motto on book and column respectively, lightly toned and some faint foxing, minor rubbing to a few corners (with loss of part of heart to top left corner JH), QD with small stain to left-hand edge, AH with small red mark, versos plain white (JH stained), fleur-de-lys watermark, each card 81 x 53 mm, contained in a wooden box, hinged lid carved with a border of ivy leaves, and with 3-dimensional flower and leaf decoration to oval centre, 12.2 x 22.5 x 5.2 cmQTY: (1)
* French playing cards. Spanish national pattern, Angouleme, Bordeaux: Jean Latache, 1816, 46 (of 48, without 6 & 7 of swords) stencil coloured woodcut playing cards (Spanish suits) with pintas, ace of coins with imitation Real Fabrica de Madrid notation, and with date, R.H. on 4 of coins, maker's name on 2 & cavelier of swords, dusty, some toning and rubbing, occasional light soiling, versos blue diamonds and dots, each card 89 x 55 mm, together with Catalan pattern, Perpignan: Dessoris, circa 1840, 38 (of 48, without cavelier, king & 4 of coins, cavelier, 6 & 7 of cups, cavelier, ace & 8 of swords, 7 of clubs) stencil coloured woodcut playing cards (Spanish suits), pintas and indices, ace of coins and all courts with maker's details, few minor marks, jack of coins with small surface loss to blank area, versos blue dots, each card 93 x 60 mm, 21 cards from each pack mounted with photo corners onto 2 display boards (42 x 59.5 cm and similar), encapsulated in clear plastic (none examined out of boards), the remainder in plastic bagsQTY: (2)NOTE:Provenance: Collection of Dudley Ollis.First item: Cartorama 51 #90 for a slightly earlier version. According to Cartorama, the Latache family were known for unsuccessful attempts at tax fraud, and they produced many packs for export. Second item: British Musem 1896,0501.842 (Schreiber, Spanish 40).
* American transformation cards. Vanity Fair #41, United States Playing Cards Company, 1895, the complete deck of 52 chromolithographed playing cards (French suits), plus joker, double-ended humerous courts, pip cards all transformed, rounded corners, gilt edges, (no condition points to note), versos red ornamental pattern, each card 88 x 62 mm, with original red two-part box, lettered in gilt on the front, mounted playing card (lightly marked) on the back, inner sleeve slightly splitting at mouth, pull-off outer sleeve lightly rubbed, 52 cards mounted with photo corners onto a single board and a folding double board, the boards encapsulated in plastic (none examined out of boards), the remaining card contained in the box (in a plastic bag), the boards (folded) 54.5 x 40 cmQTY: (1)NOTE:Provenance: Collection of Dudley Ollis.Field #58; Hochman T11.
* French playing cards. Scenic aces deck, Paris: B.P. Grimaud, circa 1870, a complete deck of 52 chromolithographed playing cards (French suits), with much use of gold, no indices, double-ended Germanic courts, JC with maker's details, each ace with two Parisian scenes, dusty, some minor marks, 5S with small flaw/mark at upper edge, rounded gilt corners, versos plain blue, each card 90 x 57 mm, with original two-part box (defective), together with: Belgian pattern, Paris: B.P. Grimaud, circa 1870, a complete deck of 52 chromolithographed playing cards (French suits), with much use of gold, no indices, double-ended courts, JC with maker's details, toned and dusty, some light spotting, QC with tiny surface abrasion to bodice, square corners, versos plain pink, each card 86 x 56 mm, plus: French standard pattern, unknown maker, circa 1910, a complete piquet deck of 32 colour lithographed playing cards (French suits), with unusual no-revoke indices to diamonds and spades, double-ended named courts, French tax stamp to AC, darkened and dust-soiled, JH with vertical crease, rounded corners, silvered edges (rubbed), versos red & black tartan, each card 83 x 54 mm, in black leather box with flap (lacking tab end), with 23 other French decks, comprising: 3 French standard pattern by unknown makers, between circa 1855-1880, showing the development of indices (52 complete, 51/52 without 6D, 50/52 without Q & KC); 12 further packs by Grimaud, most later 20th century (complete decks), one pack circa 1890, Pattern no.24 (XP5A) for export to Turkey, 48/52 (without 5C, 4 & 7D, 3S), with original wrapper; and 8 mid to late 20th century decks, including 3 by Dusserre, 2 by Heron, 1 Dorchy (without jokers), 1 Cartel & Farcy (reduced piquet deck of 32/52), and 1 unknown (but probably Willeb), conditions not checked, a quantity of cards from each deck corner mounted onto 26 display boards, 2 encapsulated in clear plastic (none examined out of display boards), the remainder in plastic bags, the boards 54.5 x 40 cm and similarQTY: (26)NOTE:Provenance: Collection of Dudley Ollis.
* French playing cards. Jeu de Cartes Abécédaire, Pierre Boboeuf: Paris, 1840, the complete Piquet deck of 32 chromolithographed playing cards (French suits), designed by Ferdinand Séré, depicting the letters of the alphabet: A-Z plus vowels a-u and oe, each with miniature playing card at top, and ornate decorations with miniature illuminated-style illustrations in red, green & gold, the illustrations representing the appropriate letter, gold borders, edges rubbed, corners lightly worn, some very light spotting and toning (8 of clubs more so), few very minor marks, versos plain white, each card 86 x 58 mm, 20 cards mounted with photo corners onto a display board, encapsulated in clear plastic (not examined out of board), the remainder in a plastic bag, the board 54 x 40 cmQTY: (1)NOTE:Provenance: Collection of Dudley Ollis.Bibliothèque Nationale de France, ark:/12148/btv1b10539489x; Cartorama 82, #67; Cary, FRA 251; Verame, Sublimes Cartes á Jouer, illustrated p.110.
* French costume playing cards. Cartes Parisiennes, Paris: Le Caméléon, ou le Propagateur des Modes, 1848, a complete deck of 52 hand-coloured engraved playing cards (French suits), single-figured courts displaying contemporary fashions, JC with date, maker's address, artist's name Janet-Lange, engraver's name Geoffroy, and printer's name Pierrat, somewhat dusty, few minor spots to pip cards, two pip cards marked, unmounted cards lightly bowed, versos dotted pink coral pattern, each card 86 x 56 mm, with original printed title card and advertising card, the former giving details of the publisher, the latter with details of local fashion shops, both with edges neatly cut along printed lines to form piquet markers (as designed), with near contemporary box with lift-off lid, 16 cards mounted with photo corners onto a display board, encapsulated in clear plastic (not examined out of board), the remainder in box within a plastic bag, the board 53 x 40.5 cmQTY: (1)NOTE:Provenance: Collection of Dudley Ollis.Bibliothèque Nationale de France, British Museum 1896, 0501.1297.1-12 (Schreiber, French 79); Cartorama 58 #98; Cary, FRA 350 (later Le Bourgeois edition with scenic aces); Fournier, France 215; Verame, Sublimes Cartes á Jouer, p. 108.
* Portuguese playing cards. Cartas indianas, Real Fabrica de Cartes de Lisboa?, circa 1820, a complete deck of 52 stencil coloured engraved playing cards (French suits), single-figured courts, JC shield with Portuguese arms, lighty dusty, some pale spotting and toning, few minor marks, JS with tiny hole to right border, versos blue dotted pattern, each card 81 x 52 mm, 16 cards mounted with photo corners onto a display board (54.5 x 40 cm), encapsulated in clear plastic (not examined out of board), the remainder in a plastic bagQTY: (1)NOTE:See Frazão (2010) p. 119 for some courts from a cartas indianas pack which agree with ours. Also p. 141 illustrates the verso design used for our pack (bottom row, second from right). Therefore it seems likely that this pack was made by the Real Fabrica de Cartes de Lisboa.
* American playing cards. Standard pattern, possibly New York: L.I. Cohen?, circa 1845?, a complete deck of 52 colour printed playing cards (French suits), no indices, single-figure courts, ace of spades with ornate design in blue and the title Imperial Palace Cards, soiled, few corner creases, 8C with crease at one end, KS with large corner crease, KD with small corner loss, corners rounded from use, versos plain white, each card 90 x 64 mm, 16 cards mounted with photo corners onto a display board (52 x 39 cm), the remainder in a plastic bagQTY: (1)NOTE:Provenance: Collection of Dudley Ollis.Cartorama 62 #276; Hochman NY2 or NY4?The courts in this mysterious deck are virtually identical in both design and colour to those of the pack shown in Cartorama (see above), which is referenced as Hochman NY4. In Hochman's Encyclopedia of American Playing Cards, (part IV, page 13) it states that the courts used for NY4 are identical to those used for NY2. However, our deck has an extremely unusual ace of spades, which we cannot find any reference to. Possibly this pack was made by Cohen for export?
* Puerto Rican playing cards. Political cards 'Barajas Alacran', Taller Alacran in San Juan: Antonio Martorell, circa 1965, the complete deck of 52 (plus 2 jokers) playing cards, printed in red and blue, with indices, suit signs represent Puerto Rican political groups: coconut palm with falling fruit (blue), white 5-pointed star on red, hand holding staff & blue flag with white cross, silhouette of a head wearing a peasant's hat (red), double-ended courts and single-headed aces representing party leaders and other political characters, with various objects incorporated into the designs, ace of coconut palms has Made in U.S.A., jokers depicts a full-length caricature of Lyndon Johnson, then president of the United States, generally toned, few faint corner creases, rounded corners, versos blue with white design including the suit signs and two scorpions incorporating the words Barajas alacran, each card 89 x 63 mm, with original wrapper (some losses), stating Printed in Puerto Rico and the maker's details, 20 cards and the wrapper corner mounted onto a display board (59 x 42 cm), encapsulated in clear plastic (not examined out of display board), the remainder in a plastic bagQTY: (1)NOTE:Provenance: Collection of Dudley Ollis.Orzack & Orzack: Political Playing-Cards: American Examples, in The Playing-Card, vol. XI, no. 2, Nov 1982, pp. 33-49.These extremely rare cards were designed and issued by Antonio Martorell and published by his studio and community art centre Taller Alacran. According to Dudley Ollis' note, Ollis was told by Louis Orzack that he (Orzack) had met Antonio Martorell and been presented with a pack of these cards. However shortly afterwards the police in Puerto Rico seized and destroyed all stocks of the cards. Orzack believed that the only packs still in existence were his own and a pack saved by the artist, which is now displayed in the Puerto Rico Museo de Arte de Ponce. Therefore this apparently escaped example, found by Dudley Ollis at a London antiques fair, would seem to be one of only three examples that have survived.The cards support the movement for independence from the United States. The Spanish word alacran means scorpion, and refers to the United States and its hold over the island. The four suits represent: coconut palms with fruit = New Progressive Party, hand with flag = Independentista movement, white star on red = Communist Party, profile head = Popular Democratic Party. This profile head is believed to be that of Governor Muñoz-Marin.
* Ceramics. Collection of 20th-century novelty chinaware with colour printed playing card decoration, approximately 58 pieces by various producers including: H. J. Horwood, Spode, Royal Worcester, Bjorn Wiinblad, Nymolle Denmark, and others, examples from ‘Gypsy Teresa’s Fortune Telling Cup’ two-piece set decorated with fortune telling material by J. G. Meakin, England, to numerous trinket dishes and ashtrays, novelty jugs, collectable plates, salt and pepper shakers plus other vessels as well as The Mystery Lady’s Book of Card and Tea Cup Fortune Telling…, presented with the Week End Novels instructional booklet on fortune telling and tea leaf reading in colour printed covers 15 x 10cmQTY: (3 boxes)
* American playing cards. The Forbidden City: Pekin & Chinese Views, Los Angeles: Grimes-Stassforth Stationary Co., 1901, the complete deck of 52 playing cards (French suits), plus joker (title card) and 'Prominent Views' card, each with captioned oval image from a photograph, including scenes of the Boxer Rebellion, palaces, temples, an 'opium joint', 'women prisoners' etc., 2 of diamonds with oval New Zealand tax stamp, 10 & 9S with small corner crease, 9S also with short edge tear, rounded corners, gilt edges, versos (heightened with gold) two dragon pennants on a blue peacock feathers background, with original two-part orange-brown box, outer slipcase with title and imprint in gold lettering, fragment of tax stamp, and an 8D card adhered to rear panel, each card 88 x 63 mm, together with Mediaeval playing cards, New York: New York Consolidated Card Co., 1897, 52 colour printed playing cards (French suits, without joker), double-ended courts in mediaeval costume, AS with maker's name, generally soiled, rubbed in places, edges stained with some light wear, 3C stained, rounded corners, double-ended versos with a card player in mediaeval costume (printed in colours and gold), each card 88 x 62 mm, original box (embossed outer sleeve only), with another 18 decks (including one duplicate), all but one 2nd half of 20th century, including: a standard 'Aladdin' deck, The National Card Co., circa 1885; Kennedy Kards, Humor House Inc., 1963; Trip or Trap deck, Stancraft Products, 1970; Stag Party pack, unknown maker, 1953; Sex to Sexty Stud Poker pack, unknown maker, circa 1970, and others, not checked for completeness, but believed complete, a quantity of cards from each deck mounted with photo corners onto 18 display boards (54.5 x 41 cm & similar), the remainder in plastic bags, many with original boxQTY: (20)NOTE:First two items: Hochman W37 & NY55 respectively. Hochman describes the Mediaeval deck as 'probably the most unusual, and most beautiful deck ever created by NYCC'.The other packs present are: High cards/Marijuana Deck, Odyssey, 1976; Politicards, drawn by Keith Nichols, 1980; Politicards, 1971 (two packs); Sutherland-Brown semi-transformation, 1977; American Drummer, 1975; Black American Heroes pack, by A.G. Muller, 1977; Texas playing cards, E & S Co., 1966; Queen High Equality deck, 1971; Soul Cards, 1973; Declaration of Independence pack, 1977; Opera playing cards (for the Met), 1980; TWA Stardust pack (Lockheed 1649-1957), circa 1970.
* American playing cards. A group of 35 decks of American playing cards, late 19th - 20th century, including: Columbian Exposition Souvenir pack (SX7), Winters Art Litho, 1893, and another similar by G.W. Clark (SX6); Amalgamated Meat Cutters & Butcher Workmen of North America, probably Brown & Biglow, circa 1952; standard pack (no.188), The Russell & Morgan Printing Co., circa 1886; Currier & Ives lithographs (oversize cards), Merrimack, 1960s; Man From U.N.C.L.E. deck, Ed-U-Cards, 1965, including U.N.C.L.E. 'membership card' for Dudley Ollis; Western Playing Cards, published Marlboro Cigarettes, 1973; Jack Daniel Distillery, Lem Motlow, 1972; Reagan's Rogues Gallery, R. Billingsley, 1987 (limited edition no.169 of 350); Hawaiian Heritage Playing Cards (printed in Belgium), 1982, and others, all believed complete, a quantity of cards from each deck mounted with photo corners onto display boards (52 x 39 cm and smaller), the remainder in plastic bags, many with original boxQTY: (35)NOTE:Provenance: Collection of Dudley Ollis.
* French transformation playing cards. Jeu de Cartes á Rire de Thalie, Paris: Grandebes, circa 1819, the complete deck of 52 hand-coloured engraved and captioned playing cards (French suits), designs attributed to Baron Louis Athalin, full-length courts representing Parisian theatres and actors, pip cards with humerous scenes, lightly dusty, scarce minor spots or marks, 6 pip cards with juvenile black ink outlining, versos plain white, each card 90 x 62 mm, plus original two-part box (darkened and dust-soiled, one corner of inner lip split), inner lip with label of Alph. Giroux, Rue de Coq St. Honoré No 7, ParisQTY: (1)NOTE:British Museum 1896,0501.736.1-48 (Schreiber, French 98); Field #26; Morley pp.120-122.Another pack with identical pip cards was produced at around the same time, but with the courts cards depicting French newspapers and policitians.Alphonse Giroux, known as 'the merchant of the princes', was an important Parisian manufacturer of luxury furniture and objets d'art, whose products were intended for the upper echelons of society. He was operating from 7, Rue de Coq St. Honoré as early as 1799, before moving to Boulevard des Capucines in the middle of the 19th century, and he counted royalty among his clients, including King Louis XVIII and King Charles X. Specialising in paper and artistic supplies he sold a hugely diverse range of wares, including toys, boxes, souvenirs, lithographs, mirrors, clocks, sewing accessories, fabrics, and items of furniture. Giroux had studied painting under Jacques-Louis David, and he not only collected, exhibited and sold fine art, but he offered a conservation service also, becoming involved in such prestigious projects as the restoration of Notre Dame Cathedral. The firm of Giroux showcased its wares widely at world fairs and exhibitions, and won a number of medals.
* American Civil War playing cards. Union Cards, New York: American Card Co., 1862, the complete deck of 52 playing cards, lithographed in blue and red, the suits are eagles and shields (blue), stars and American flags (red), courts (same in each suit) represent a colonel (kings), goddess of liberty (queens) and a major (jacks), ace of eagles has maker's details, most card faces have some light offsetting from the versos, few minor marks, 5 flags finger-soiled, ace & 6 stars creased, square corners, versos ornate blue design incorporating Union flags and shield, each card 90 x 63 mm, plus original box with lift-off lid, toned and somewhat soiled, 12 cards mounted with photo corners onto a display board (54.5 x 40cm), encapsulated in clear plastic (not examined out of board), the remainder in a plastic bagQTY: (1)NOTE:Provenance: Collection of Dudley Ollis.Fournier, North America 35; Hargrave, pp.343-344; Hochman W5; Willshire, Varia 247.These cards, designed by Benjamin W. Hitchcock, were produced during the American Civil War and clearly were intended for sale in the Union states. Willshire rather amusingly describes them as 'of very vulgar character'. In 1863 the American Card Company produced another pack of these cards, but in that later pack the court cards have no background.
* French photographic playing cards. Parisian Opera Singers, Paris: Stanislas-Désiré Avril et Cie, circa 1865, 51 (of 52, without ace of clubs) playing cards (French suits), courts with three-quarter length photographic portraits, each named to upper right, maker's name to lower left, red suits signs added in gouache, pip cards lithographed in red and black, courts a trifle toned, some fading, pip cards very lightly bowed, square corners, versos plain blue, each card 95 x 60 mm, ace of clubs added in from a different (unknown) pack, 16 cards mounted with photo corners onto a display board, encapsulated in clear plastic (not examined out of board), the remainder in a plastic bag, the board 54.5 x 40 cmQTY: (1)NOTE:Provenance: Collection of Dudley Ollis.A rare set of operatic playing cards in very good condition. The Bibliothèque Nationale de France list this set (ark:/12148/btv1b10509209x), but have only ten courts. The court cards are photographs of famous 19th century French opera singers. The portraits were taken by renowned French lithographer and photographer Adolphe Bilordeaux (1807-1872) who was one of the pioneers in the use of salt print technique on waxed paper. Gouache was added to the cards to highlight the suit symbols as colour photography was not then possible. Avril et Cie was only active in Paris between 1856 and 1868, after which it was declared bankrupt. The costume decks also produced by Avril have decorative aces identical to ours (for example Schreiber, French 67). Although Dudley Ollis notes that his ace of clubs is on different cardstock to the remainder of the pack he still listed this as a complete deck. However the ace of clubs is clearly from a different pack, despite having the same blue verso. The opera singers represented include Louis Gueymard, Pauline Lauters, Charles Louis Puberaux and Marie Cico. Avril also produced this pack with full-length portraits (see World of Playing Cards webpage: Parisian Actors and Opera Singers).
* French playing cards. Nouveau Jeu de Mariage ou la Dot, Paris: Bourrut-Lemerie (or Le Merie, Bourrut?), 1815, the complete piquet deck of 32 hand-coloured engraved playing cards (French suits), each with a full-length portrait of a character at the wedding, captioned beneath, miniature playing card (hand-coloured single-figure Paris pattern type courts) to upper left, 16 of the cards are numbered and additionally captioned 'Importun' (meaning 'irksome intruder'), lightweight cards made from two layers only, some upper layers poorly adhered (with slight bubbling), some minor marks, occasional light finger-soiling, 9H with old repaired surface tear, 10H with vertical crease (causing slight surface cracking), square corners, versos with blue trellis pattern, each card 97 x 61 mm, with original two-part wood and card box (covering rubbed with wear, especially to lower part), lift-off lid with hand-coloured pictorial title label, inside lid with manufacturer's advertisement, listing various other games including Jeu des Cris de Paris and Jeu des Drapeaux et Batailles, 21 cards mounted with photo corners onto a display board (39.5 x 54.5 cm), encapsulated in clear plastic (not examined out of board), the remainder in the box inside a plastic bagQTY: (1)NOTE:Provenance: Collection of Dudley Ollis.BNF identifier: ark:/12148/btv1b105091941. Although our pack has the box, which the BNF example (dated to 1815) lacks, our pack is without the instruction card which their deck includes.
* French (?) playing cards. Erotic deck, unknown maker, circa 1820, a complete piquet deck of 32 uncoloured engraved playing cards (French suits), each card illustrates two or more figures in explicitly depicted sexual scenes, miniature playing card to upper left (single-figure Paris pattern type courts), some light toning and minor marks or spots, 7D with few stronger brown spots, AC with brown stain to right blank area, square corners, plain white versos, each card 77 x 49 mm, all cards mounted with photo corners onto a display board (40 x 54.5 cm), encapsulated in clear plastic (not examined out of board)QTY: (1)NOTE:Provenance: Collection of Dudley Ollis.The only other example of this finely engraved erotic pack we have found was sold at auction by Millon (5 Nov 2011, lot 75). In that case, each card had a caption in French and Spanish to the upper right. Our pack appears to be more finely engraved and so perhaps published earlier.
* French playing cards. Revolutionary version of Auvergne pattern, Angouleme: Pierre Laboureur, circa 1804, a complete deck of 52 stencil coloured wood engraved playing cards (French suits), single figure courts with all fleur-de-Lys and crowns replaced, JC with maker's ink stamp, eagle watermark, lightly dusty, occasional light toning to pip cards, 4S with surface loss to one corner (affecting pip sign), square corners, versos plain white, each card 81 x 55 mm, 16 cards mounted with photo corners onto a display board, encapsulated in clear plastic (not examined out of board), the remainder in a plastic bag, the board 54.5 x 40 cmQTY: (1)NOTE:Provenance: Collection of Dudley Ollis.See BNF Identifier: ark:/12148/btv1b105360738 for an example dated to 1792 with several almost identical courts, made by Jaque Besse in Angouleme. D'Allemagne lists Pierre Laboureur as being active in Angouleme between 1753-1804.
* French playing cards. Dauphine pattern, Grenoble: Cheminade, circa 1750, 10 stencil coloured woodblock playing cards (French suits), comprising all heart, spade and club courts, plus 2 of clubs, single-figure courts, JC and JS with maker's details, JS with pale brown mark to upper left, 2C with faint crease, plain white versos, each card 88 x 53 mm, contained together in a single album page with clear pocketsQTY: (1)NOTE:Provenance: Collection of Dudley Ollis.These cards are in excellent condition for their age. D'Allemagne lists several members of the Cheminade family as cardmakers in Grenoble, from the late 17th century and throughout the 18th century.
* American playing cards. Hustling Joe I (No.61), Cincinnati, United States: United States Playing Card Co., 1895, the complete deck of 52 plus joker colour lithographed playing cards (French suits), double-ended humorous courts relating to the suits (eg. diamond courts all holding diamonds), their coloured backgrounds extending to the card edges, partially transformed comic pip cards, AS with red Hustling Joe and maker's details, top edges of cards lightly toned and dusty, with occasional very faint edge stain (mainly affecting pip cards), example card (additional KS) with corner clipped (by manufacturer?), rounded corners, versos green double-ended image of frogs diving, swimming etc., each card 88 x 63 mm, original two-part box, inner sleeve intact, outer sleeve lacking top panel, rubbed and dust-soiled with slight wear, together with: Cleveland Comic Campaign Deck (comic political playing cards), New York: A.H. Caffee, 1888, a complete deck of 52 plus joker colour printed playing cards (French suits), without the description card, double-ended courts caricatures of political figures, joker pictures Cleveland knocking out Harrison, triplicate indices, soiled and worn, with corner losses and few tears, KS with one corner sometime reattached (stains from previous adhesive tape repair), versos red on buff design picturing newspaper editors, original box (worn with losses), plus: The Stage Playing Cards (No. 65x), Cincinatti, United States: USPC Co., 1896, a complete deck of 52 plus joker colour & gold printed playing cards (French suits), courts and aces picturing 4 stage stars of the day, Marshall P. Wilder on the joker, no condition points to note, rounded corners, gilt edges, versos gold & brown ornamental pattern, each card 88 x 63 mm, original two-part box, both sleeves lightly rubbed to extremities, outer sleeve a trifle dusty, with 9 other American packs, 5 by the USPC Co.: Nile Fortune Cards (circa 1904), Gypsy Witch Fortune Telling (circa 1970), Gaigel Playing Cards (circa 1895), 2 standard decks (one Aviator circa 1970, the other with image of New York on versos, 1975), and 4 by Andrew Dougherty: Triplicate Playing Cards (1876, without joker), R.F. Foster's Patented Self-Playing Whist Cards (2 decks - 1st series 1889 & 2nd series 1891), and a standard deck with Excelsior AS (32 cards piquet deck, no joker), a quantity of cards from each deck mounted with photo corners onto 12 boards (54.5 x 41 cm & similar), some boards encapsulated in plastic (none examined out of boards), the remainder in plastic bagsQTY: (12)NOTE:Provenance: Collection of Dudley Ollis.First 3 items: Hochman T9, A5 & SE3 respectively.
* French playing cards. Aluette pack, Paris: H. Pussey, 1880s, a complete deck of 48 stencil coloured wood engraved playing cards (Spanish suits), single-figure courts, 2 of swords with 'Mson Testu, H. Pussey Succr, Paris', 4 of coins with H.P., 2 pip cards with a couple of minor brown spots or marks, 6 of coins with slight surface damage to one long edge, slightly rounded gilt corners, versos brown tartan, each card 84 x 55 mm, 28 cards mounted with photo corners onto a display board (42 x 59.5 cm), encapsulated in clear plastic (not examined out of board), the remainder in a plastic bagQTY: (1)NOTE:Provenance: Collection of Dudley Ollis.Henry Pussey was a successor to E. Testu and made playing cards in Paris between 1880-1890, when he then sold the manufacturing part of his business to B.P. Grimaud. Pussey is best known for his Sybille des Salons and double-ended standard packs. This aluette deck is very similar to that produced by Avril & Cie (Cary coll., FRA 172) who had during the 1860s also called themselves 'Successor to Testu'.
* French playing cards. Type I (pre-1701) Paris pattern, Strasbourg: Joseph Henri Beaufore, circa 1750, a reduced deck of 40 stencil coloured woodcut playing cards (French suits), 4 suits of 10 cards each, comprising ace-7, jack, queen & king, named courts except JC which has maker's name, JS has Etranger, somewhat dusty and toned, scarce minor marks, 3S and 5D with larger brown mark, 3D spotted, AH with tiny surface tear to one corner, versos blue pattern of small diamonds and stars, each card 85 x 58 mm, 16 cards mounted with photo corners onto a display board, encapsulated in clear plastic (not examined out of board), the remainder in a plastic bag, the board 54.5 x 40 cmQTY: (1)NOTE:Provenance: Collection of Dudley Ollis.According to the collector's notes this pack is the only known example of a standard pattern deck by this maker, who is apparently known only by a few very incomplete tarot packs. Beaufore was active between 1738-1759. The mark Estranger on the jack of spades indicates that the deck was produced for export - possibly to Germany as the patterned versos would suggest.
* Japanese playing cards. Hana Fuda: Hachi-hachi-bana pack, Kyoto: Nihon Karuta Seizō Co.[?], circa 1975, a complete double-deck set of colour printed playing cards, comprising 2 decks each of 48 cards, plus two blank cards and one control ticket (unstamped), faintly dusty in places, each card 53 x 33 mm, versos differ: one deck plain black, the other plain brown, original printed wrappers, that to one deck with cancelled Japanese tax stamp, each deck with original two-part plastic box, contained together within original two-part card box, colour printed label to lid, together with Mekuri-Fuda: Kingyoku (Golden Pole) pack, Kyoto: Nintendo Playing Card Co., circa 1975, a complete deck of 48 (plus devil's card and blank card) colour printed playing cards, several cards overprinted in silver, some light dust-soiling and rubbing in places, each card 54 x 33 mm, versos plain black, original printed wrapper and inner foil wrapper, original two-part plastic box, plus Kabu-Fuda: Irinokichi (President) pack, Kyoto: Nintendo, circa 1975, a complete deck of 48 (plus devil's card, blank card and control ticket) colour printed playing cards, 3 cards overprinted in silver, couple of small marks, each card 54 x 32 mm, versos plain black, original printed wrapper and inner foil wrapper, original two-part plastic box, with another 8 Mekuri and similar Fuda decks, all circa 1975, and 27 Western-style decks, 2nd half 20th century, including: 'Sonnet' Sixted playing cards, by Mizuta, pub. Cosmos Planning (c.1983); Toyopet Crown, Nintendo (c.1970); Torys, for Suntory Whisky (c.1983); Flora, Angel P.C.Co., (1982); Hiroshige Ukiyo-e, by ACE (c.1980); Japanese Women, designed by Takasawa, Angel P.C. Co. (c.1985), and others, all believed complete, a quantity of cards from each deck mounted with photo corners onto display boards (52 x 39 cm), the remainder in plastic bags, many with original boxQTY: (38)NOTE:The other packs comprise: By Nintendo - Crazyrider (1983), Meitetsu (c.1985), Morinaga Rose (c.1985), Suzuki (1978), Tactics Supranational (c.1978), Vintage Cars (c.1970), Diamond Tour (c.1977), Nippon Beer (1960s), Fujitsu Limited (1973), Suntory Akadama Honey Wine (c.1970), Young Men (1967), Honda Driving Safety Promotion Centre (1970s?), Ukiyo-E (1969), Crown II, for Laser Clay (1973). By Angel - Jeune Fille (1983), European, designed Asahi (a mixed pack). Others - Panty Cards, designed Takagaki, pub Nippon Yugi-Gangu Co. (1982), Charlie (underwear), unknown maker (c.1982), ACE Men's Wear Inc (no-revoke type deck). Fuda decks: Mekuri-Fuda - Akahachi, Fukutoku, Mitsuoghi; Kabu-Fuda - Kudosan, Mefuda, Daini, Komaru, Kinseizan (all Nintendo, c.1975).
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![* Japanese playing cards. Hana Fuda: Hachi-hachi-bana pack, Kyoto: Nihon Karuta Seizō Co.[?], circa 1975, a complete double-d](https://cdn.globalauctionplatform.com/c7e0fe7d-cc7e-430f-bede-b14e0119bce5/4d05d8d7-9df5-473a-b1eb-b18801190eda/468x382.jpg)