Catalogue of the collection of playing cards bequeathed to the Trustees of the British museum by the late Lady Charlotte Schreiber.

146

CATALOGUE OF CARDS.

2. An old king of spades, with the title " Duneur au roy." Back
plain.
34 x 24 in. [S. Vol. I, pl. 139.]
3. An old knave of clubs, with the title "Capitaine Millault." Back
plain.
34 x 2i in. [S. Vol. I, pl. 139.]
4. Seven small unmounted court cards, artistically engraved on copper
with standing figures in early 16th century costumes, viz.:the knaves of hearts and clubs, the king, queen and knave
of diamonds, and the king and queen of spades. They are accompanied by two other cards, one representing a female cartomancer, the other a wizard taking a rat from a bag.
24 x 1 in. [S. Vol. I, pl. 139.]
*** The nationality of this and the two preceding items is quite uncertain.
II.-INSTRUCTIVE AND FANCIFUL PACKS.
5. Mythology. Mortier's " Jeu des Metamorphoses d'Ovide." Complete
set (52) of the cards published at Amsterdam by Mortier, in
imitation of those issued by Desmarest in Paris (see French
PACKS, Nos. 106-122). Each has a prettily engraved representation of a story in the Metamorphoses, with explanation in French
below, the value being indicated by a suitmark inclosing a numeral
in the upper part of the composition. With original wrapper,
which has an engraving of an assemblage of the gods, with the
full title above and below, and "Jeu d'Ovide" at each end.
Mounted in an album.
3i x 2i in.
6. Ancient History. Mortier's "Jeu des Hommes et Femmes
Illustres." Complete pack of 52, belonging to the same series
as the last. Each card has an engraving of an antique bust of a
Greek or Roman celebrity, with an account in French below.
The values are indicated in the same way as in the preceding.
With a wrapper which has an engraving of a wounded warrior
being carried into the presence of a general, with the title " Jeu des
HIommes Illustres" above and below, and " Hommes Illustres" at
each end. The pack is accompanied by a small book giving the
rules of the game and accounts of the personages. Backs plain.
31 x 2i in.
7. Kings of France; c. 1700. Imperfect pack of 28 well-engraved
cards, probably copied from French originals, consisting of the