Playing Cards served a secondary purpose in life
when paper was an expensive commodity.
They were used for advertising, aid memoirs, accounts etc etc
Their secondary use was only limited by one's imagination.
Below of some early offering with a wide variety of purposes.
ALL ARE from either 17, 18 or 19th Century

Eight Secondary Use French Playing Cards

These are of the Paris Pattern of 1701

REF: OO1701_003

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18th Century Queen of Hearts with manual inscription on reverse

REF: su_0922_qh_060

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18th Century Queen of Diamonds with manual inscription on reverse

REF: su_0922_qd _06

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18th Century King of Clubs with manual inscription on reverse

REF: su_0922_kc 06

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18th Century Jack of Clubs with manual inscription on reverse – damaged

REF: su_0922_jc 05

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Eighteenth Eight of Spades used as a library card – references the position of [ Captain ] Cook’s plates to his voyage.

REF: su_0922_8s

£40

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Eighteenth Eight of Clubs used as a library card – references the position of George Forsters book
” A voyage round the world in his majesty’s sloop – Resolution – commanded by Captain James Cook during the years 1773-1774 and 7?.
London …. 1777

Eight Secondary Use French Playing Cards

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SOLD

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SOLD

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SOLD