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OLD PLAYING CARDS
ENGLISH STANDARD PLAYING CARDS TO 1828
MAKERS INCLUDE GROSER, GIBSON & GISBORNE,
FRENCH, HALL, HUNT & SONS,
I HARDY AMONGST OTHERS 

Complete pack [ 52/52 ] of George III
English Playing Cards by Gibson & Co c1765-1776

Gibson was located at 30 Gerrard Street in Soho, London, the premises previously being occupied by Christopher Blanchard. 
 
These cards would have been printed under the management of Charles Gibson who was a maker from 1772 to 1798.
 
Tax from 1765 to 1776 was One Shilling [ 5p in decimal money ] and was applied as six pence on the Jeu [ maker’s wrapper – name originating from the French trade] and six pence on the duty wrapper so this copper engraved Duty Ace of Spades bears no reference to duty.
 
From 1776 onwards duty would be additionally added to the ace of spades progressed in three six pence increments to 1801 when the tax stated on the ace of spades was one shilling and sixpence [ or six pence three times ] making the total tax on a pack of playing cards as two shillings and six pence.
 
The court cards are full length with no indices and are ‘unturned’ ie the pips are not uniformly on one side.
 
The backs, as was the case with English Standard Playing Cards of this period, were plain white.
 
Condition = some cards exhibit surface wear and the ten of clubs has an inferpection in the second left hand pip.
 
Despite some minor imperfections [ no tares or bent corners ] the cards are rated 5++/10  and are extremely scarce in any condition.

REF: Gibson_97_Z     
 

£1,500.00

Ken Lodge - the British Playing Card Industry 1600-2000

Laurence Alt - The Card and Dice Office The Playing Card Volume XX No:1 & 2

References

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1765 by Rowley & Co Playing Cards

These are cards are copper engraved .

1765 was the year that the taxing authorities attempted to introduce a standard Ace of Spades to show the tax paid. These were printed by the revenue and released to the individual makers on payment of the required duty; it is therefore amazing that this Ace should be so different to all the other makers.

The unusualness of this pack also extended to the pips and the court cards. So this was the first non-standard design on a standard pack of playing cards of the United Kingdom.

Half length courts within ovals frames, representing kings and queens with court body-guards as Jacks.

The suit signs are ‘red chalice’, with a heart in the chalice, a ‘black pike head’, an ‘orange topaz’, cut in a diamond shape and a green clover leaf.

The court cards correspond to England, France, Spain and Portugal. The Aces of chalices, topazes, and clover are in oval cartouches decorated with a mitre, crozier and croos, a winged hat, caduseus and trident, a wreath and farm tools.

Rowley and Co operated at No.6 in the Old Bailey, London.

Duty Ace George III Number 11.

The pack is complete 52/52 with plain backs. The condition is worn plus the occasional surface mark.
They have been heavily played with but there are no tares or bends.

This is a very scarce 18th Century Pack and the price reflects the overall condition.

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REF: Rowley_No11-Z  
 

£1,100.00

POSTAGE AT COST

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C1785 A complete set of Piquet Playing Cards by Gibson & Gisborne

Ace of Spades [ Engraved ] George III One 6d No. 20
With 31 woodblock printed cards in small format
[ 58mm x 86mm – Inner Frame 33mm x 57mm ]
These cards in the four regular suits with
Ace, King, Queen, Jack, Ten, Nine, Eight and Seven
Full standing unturned courts.
32 cards [ complete ] in total were often sued for the game of Piquet or Faro.
The cards are in first class condition – the Ace of Spades is a little darker; often seen as usually the top card of the pack attracting a little dust – also engraved printing by the Stamp Office

REF: GG_20_Z  
 

£650.00

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A unique complete set of 18th Century playing cards by Christopher Groser  

Three sets are known by this maker – this is the only complete one and has uniform, non-mixed, courts.

The Duty Ace of Spades tells us it was registered between 1789 and 1801. This conflicts with John Berry’s detailed listings of the Stamping Office records but this is certainly no exception – records were lost and misplaced.

Berry1 does list a Groser Duty Ace for the period 1801-1828 with duty of One Shilling and Six Pence
[ six pence added three times ] but this could have just been a notation error by Berry given the size of his undertaking.

So this George III packs of playing cards shows duty on the Ace of Spades of One Shilling
[ six pence added twice ] making the total duty for the pack as Two Shillings [ two further sixpences were applied to the Jew and the Wrapper ] and was most probably issued c1790-95.

Groser is cited as operating from 14 Prince’s Street, Cavendish Square at the time of this packs production.

The acknowledged expert of the English Standard Pattern, Dr Ken Lodge2, has identified the courts as being made by Gibson, operating from 58 Mortimer Street, Cavendish Square during this period.

Christopher Groser and Charles Gibson were both Liverymen of the Worshipful Company of Makers of Playing Cards and had both held the esteemed position of Master of that Company. Groser in 1784 and Gibson in 1773.

Given their premises close physical proximity to each other, see map, and their involvement, at a senior level, in the Worshipful Company is not only reasonable to assume that they knew each other well but one could speculate that Gibson produced the basic pack, 51 cards, to go with Groser’s Duty Ace of Spades for a fee.

It is quite probably that Groser was involved in the production of other wares, maybe of a stationary type, and this using of Gibson for outsourcing would make sense all ways round presuming his sales were of a low volume supported by number of instances of his Duty Ace known

I can only presume that the Stamping Officer would visit Groser’s premises to duty the final product – it making no difference to the stamping office who actually made the 51 cards as long at the duty was paid.

The cards are in very good condition and represent a high standard of workmanship with an unprinted reverse.

1 Taxation on Playing-Cards in England from 1711-1960 – John Berry
2 The British playing card industry 1600-200: the makers and their products. Ken Lodge

groser_aos_2

REF: GROSER    
 

£4,500.00

groser_6
groser_map
groser_3
groser_4
groser_5
groser_aos_1

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An 18th Century English Revenue Ace of Spades - perhaps not

Liberty & Beef

This interesting item came to light at a recent auction of Italian Printed Sheets and Cards.

To all extant and purposes is an English Duty Ace of the 1765 to 1776 period.

Aces were printed by the Stamp Office, using intaglio plates, then these sheets were returned to the Playing Card Maker for pasting onto the backing board.

So what can we say about this Ace.

Firstly,  no such maker is recorded by the Worshipful Company of Makers of Playing Cards despite the fact that one website has a pack of the correct period with this Duty Ace with the addition of the words GENOA.

Examining the Ace shows that the regnal number III is partly obliterated by a decoration. That decoration should be in a leaf format as it should be on the right hand side of the garter.

The symbol, under the DIEU ET MON DROIT, looks nothing like it should.

It was at that point that the engraver would denote any re-cuts.

So this is a fake, maybe the Italians, if indeed they were the forgers, were trying to cache in on the this lucrative trade that was seated in Belgium.

The paper is adjudged to be early 19th century.

So it is offered as a Fake but an interesting one.

libert_beef_lb_ace

REF: LB_ACE    
 

£90.00

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c1800 A sheet of 'FAKE' English Playing Cards - GIBSON & GISBORNE

Made in Belgium, quite possibly in Brussels, the sole purpose to avoid British Tax which was excessively high.

Whilst the Ace is very obviously a fake being cut from a woodblock as opposed to a genuine British Duty Ace being from an engraved plate, the court cards are very typical of the period.

This sheet , measuring 15.25 inches by 13.5 inches, has the benefit of portraying all the courts, the ‘Duty Ace’, the Two of Spades and the Nine of Spades.

The condition of the sheet is typical of it’s type – not being square cut.

POST IS FREE ON THIS ITEM

REF: CSA5258         

£700.00

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1801 Complete set of playing cards by
I Hardy

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The Hardy family, as makers of playing cards, operated from 1784 to around 1842.

This pack of single figure courts was produced by I Hardy c1801 and bears the Duty Garter Ace of Spades No: 4 and the taxation of six pence [ 2.5 new pence ] three times - making a total of 1 shilling and 6d [ there was additional duty of 2 further six pennies on the label and the wrapper making the tax 2/6d or 1/8th of a Pound ].

The Ace bears the monarchs regnal number of GIII - George the third. This Ace of Spades in line engraved and was issued by the Stamp Office.

The court cards are produced from woodblocks providing an outline print which is then hand coloured.

The courts exhibited small differences between makers allowing experts, like Ken Lodge, to pinpoint the maker, or the makers family, without the presence of the makers duty ace.

These card are graded 7.5/10 exhibiting a small about of use and age marks but with no tears or bends.

REF:IH_4
£800

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Reference:
The British Playing Card Industry, the makers and their products
Bungay 2017

Ken Lodge

1798 Complete set of Playing Cards by Hall

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Hall took over the business run by Llewellyn in 1786

This complete pack of 52 cards was produced c1798 and bear the Duty Garter Ace of Spades No: 33 and the taxation of six pence [ 2.5 new pence ] added two times making it a total of one shilling on this Ace plus an additional one shilling collected on the label and the wrapper[ six pennies on each.]

The Ace bears the monarchs regnal number GIII - George the third.

The Ace of Spades is line engraved and was issued by the Stamp Office.

The court cards are produced from woodblocks providing an outline print which is then hand coloured.

The courts exhibited small differences between makers allowing experts, like Ken Lodge, to pinpoint the maker, or the makers family, without the presence of the makers duty ace.

These card are graded 8.5/10 exhibiting a small about of use but with no tears or bends.

REF:H_33

£750

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Reference:
The British Playing Card Industry, the makers and their products
Bungay 2017

Ken Lodge

C1818 Complete set of Playing Cards by
Hall & Son

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Reference:
The British Playing Card Industry, the makers and their products
Bungay 2017

Ken Lodge

Hall & Son - who was Henry - operated from 25 Piccadilly to 1819.

This complete pack of 52 cards was produced c1819 and bear the Duty Garter Ace of Spades No: 83 and the taxation of One Shilling and Sixpence this Ace plus an additional one shilling collected on the label and the wrapper[ six pennies on each.]

The Ace bears the monarchs regnal number GIII - George the third.

The Ace of Spades is line engraved and was issued by the Stamp Office.

The court cards are produced from woodblocks providing an outline print which is then hand coloured.

The courts exhibited small differences between makers allowing experts, like Ken Lodge, to pinpoint the maker, or the makers family, without the presence of the makers duty ace.

These card are graded 8.5/10 exhibiting a small about of use but with no tears or bends.

REF:HAS_83
£750

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C1813 Complete set of Playing Cards by Hunt & Sons

Reference:
The British Playing Card Industry, the makers and their products
Bungay 2017

Ken Lodge

This complete pack of 52 cards was produced c1813 and bear the Duty Garter Ace of Spades No: 2 and the taxation of One Shilling and Sixpence this Ace plus an additional one shilling collected on the label and the wrapper[ six pennies on each.]

The Ace bears the monarchs regnal number GIII - George the third.

The Ace of Spades is line engraved and was issued by the Stamp Office.

The court cards are produced from woodblocks providing an outline print which is then hand coloured.

The courts exhibited small differences between makers allowing experts, like Ken Lodge, to pinpoint the maker, or the makers family, without the presence of the makers duty ace.

These card are graded 8.5/10 exhibiting a small about of use but with no tears or bends.

REF:HAS_2
£375

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C1813 Complete set of Playing Cards by Hunt & Sons

Reference:
The British Playing Card Industry, the makers and their products
Bungay 2017

Ken Lodge

This complete pack of 52 cards was produced c1813 and bear the Duty Garter Ace of Spades No: 11 and the taxation of One Shilling and Sixpence this Ace plus an additional one shilling collected on the label and the wrapper[ six pennies on each.]

The Ace bears the monarchs regnal number GIII - George the third.

The Ace of Spades is line engraved and was issued by the Stamp Office.

The court cards are produced from woodblocks providing an outline print which is then hand coloured.

The courts exhibited small differences between makers allowing experts, like Ken Lodge, to pinpoint the maker, or the makers family, without the presence of the makers duty ace.

These card are graded 8.5/10 exhibiting a small about of use but with no tears or bends.

REF:HAS_11
£375

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c1812 Playing Cards by Josiah Stone with George III Duty Ace.

An interesting pack from a hard to find maker.

The Ace of Spades has a portion of the engraving scratched out. This would have read “EXPORTATION” .

There was no duty on packs for exportation and you can see this Ace has no duty detailed on it. This is only possible if the Ace was produced between 1765 and 1776 – Stone was not a maker unto c1800

So what we have is a pack destined for export that either found it’s way back to the England and was sold as a normal pack or is from a batch of cards that were fraudulently diverted from export to the domestic trade. Either way we are talking about a savings of 2/6d [ one eight of a pound ].

Stone experienced problems c mid twenties and his Duty Aces were added to the account of Creswick – one could speculate that maybe he was a naughty boy – though there is no evidence of that.

The courts are Type II and the backs of the cards are plain.

52 cards complete – card are very good condition – played with but with no bends or tares – light surface marks from whist perhaps?

REF: JS_EXP_Z    
 

£500.00

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Henry French Exportation Ace Playing Cards c1800/1805

We know of only two other packs from this maker, both EXPORTATION Aces, and count this as one of the rarest 18th/19th Century English Playing Card Makers – this is Ace number 18 of 20.

Henry French operated from 11 Broad St, Bloomsbury from 1794 to 1805.

He was Warden of the Worshipful Company of Makers of Playing Cards in 1800/1801 and became Master in 1802.

His court cards bear a similarity to those of Brotherton and T Wheeler. This is especially true with the Queen of Hearts which has the clasped Tulip un-opened compared to the vast majority of his piers where the tulip [?] is fully opened.

The cards are in excellent condition. The Jack of Diamonds exhibits bottom margin slippage [ a printing anomaly ] and the Queen of Spades has a very slight colour run, top left of card not affecting the design.

The cards have a plain back.

Insured Postage is free on this item.

REF: CSAHF_18         

£3,000.00

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Thomas Creswick Imperial Playing Cards 1827

A complete deck of the scarce playing cards by Thomas Creswick dated 1827
The Imperial Playing Cards

The twelve court cards depict historical Kings and Queens of various nations and although unnamed  the King of Clubs is clearly Henry VIII you can make educated guesses about the others – mine are – Queen of Clubs Elizabeth I, King of Spade is Carlos I, King of Diamonds Solima II.

George IV Ace of Spades No: 11

This is a complete deck with patterned backs – the cards are in used condition 

Although these are non standad courts we have placed them within the standard section as they are not what we would define as illustrated cards as they bear standing court cards.

REF: IC_1827      
 

£875.00

Reproductio of the
fly leaf of
New Monthly Magazine, Dec. 1827
Detailed description of the playing cards

Bibliothèque Nationale de France 

Hunt & Sons c1827 Complete Deck of Playing Card - a Georgian Pack.

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REF:ES_28_Hunt_95_Z
£350

This deck has single figure unturned courts and plain white backs.

All but the Duty Ace of Spades were printed from Woodblocks.
The duty card was printed from Intaglio plates in sheets of 20
This Ace was from a plate laid down in May 1827 and bears the Die Number 95

The Duty levied on this ace is ONE SHILLING AND SIX PENCE

This is the GARTER ACE design instituted in 1765 to replace the previous Red Duty Handstamp

The Ace bears the George IV notation above the Garter on the left GIV

Cards are complete and in very fine condition ranked 9/10
There are small edge marks on the 3 lower club pips

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Hunt & Sons c1817 Complete Deck of Playing Card - a Georgian Pack.

REF:ES_28_Hunt_42
£350

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This deck has single figure unturned courts and plain white backs.

All but the Duty Ace of Spades were printed from Woodblocks.
The duty card was printed from Intaglio plates in sheets of 20
This Ace was from a plate laid down in 1817 and bears the Die Number 42

The Duty levied on this ace is ONE SHILLING AND SIX PENCE

This is the GARTER ACE design instituted in 1765 to replace the previous Red Duty Handstamp

The Ace bears the George III notation above the Garter on the left GIII

Cards are complete and iin slightly played with condition ranked 7+/10

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Hunt & Sons c1827 Complete Deck of Playing Card - a Georgian Pack.

REF:ES_28_Hunt_115_Z
£300

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This deck has single figure unturned courts and plain white backs.

All but the Duty Ace of Spades were printed from Woodblocks.
The duty card was printed from Intaglio plates in sheets of 20
This Ace was from a plate laid down in c1827 and bears the Die Number 115

The Duty levied on this ace is ONE SHILLING AND SIX PENCE

This is the GARTER ACE design instituted in 1765 to replace the previous Red Duty Handstamp

The Ace bears the George IV notation above the Garter on the left GIV

Cards are complete and in a slightly played with condition with occasional surface mark ranked 7/10

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c 1820 English Standard Hand Drawn & Coloured Complete Pack on Bananna Leaf

They were believed to have been made in Ceylon and are on either palm leaf or 
banana leaf. They are mounted and housed in two books and were previously part of a 
collection by Captain H. E. Rimington Wilson of Broomhead Hall. 

His collection was sold in 1971 and although it only contained about 100 items of playing cards Sylvia Mann was totally impressed with the quality of the collection.

Insured Postage is free on this item.

REF: CSA3810       

£2,500.00

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