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

ENGLISH CARDS.

169

81. Domino cards. Complete set in the form of dominoes; ebony
inlaid with brass suitmarks and pips.
21 x 7 in.
Fortune-telling.
82. Lenthall's cards; c. 1670. Complete engraved pack designed for
divination. Every alternate numeral card has an astrological
sphere, and the others are filled with fortune-telling answers. The
court cards are whole length figures, the kings and queens being
the same in all four suits, though with different inscriptions. Every
card has a ruled off space at the top, containing the name of some
astrologer, sibyl, etc., with a numeral and suitmark to indicate the
value. On the ace of hearts is "Hermes Trismagistus," on the
king of hearts " Pharoh," on the knave of spades '(Wat Tyler"
and on that of clubs " Hewson, the regicide." Two cards, on which
is engraved "The Use of the Cards," accompany the pack, and the
second bears the address " Sold by John Lenthall, Stationer, at the
Talbot against St. Dunstan Church, Fleetstreet, London."
38 x 21 in. [S. Vol. I, pl. 73-76.]
83. Lenthall's cards; c. 1670. Contemporary repetition of the preceding pack; imperfect, wanting the 2 of hearts and the two cards
of instruction.
38 x 21 in.
84. Anonymous; c. 1820. Complete engraved pack, each card containing an illustration of a fortune-telling prophecy, which is given
in the form of a distich at the bottom. The value is indicated by
a miniature card in the upper left corner. The ace of hearts is " A
merry feast you shortly will attend, About the marriage of a
worthy friend," and the king of clubs "A humane, generous,
upright; happy man, Now Lady strive! and win him if you can."
The hearts and diamonds are printed in red ink, the other suits in
black. Backs plain.
31 x 2- in.
85. Anonymous; c. 1860. Complete pack, giving burlesque illustrations of fortune-telling prophecies. The suitmarks are in their
usual positions and mingled with the designs. On the ace of
hearts is "A Declaration," and on the king of clubs "You will be
remembered for all that you have done." The hearts and diamonds
are printed in red, the other suits in black. Backs plain pink.
3~ x 24 in.