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

206

CATALOGUE OF CARDS.

(b.) With fancy German Suits.
39. Frankfort. H. Hauck, 1585. Two fragmentary sheets containing
each fifteen cards or portions of cards of the suits bells, acorns,
birds and flowers. The 3 of flowers has the initials H. H. and a
shield charged with two hooks in saltire over a heart: the deuce
has the name Heinrich Hauck, and the ace has the date.
Uncoloured.
[S. Vol. II, pl. 81.]
40. Eleven early sheets or portions of sheets, executed on wood, containing 71 cards which belong to as many as sixteen different
suits, including thistles, grapes, bagpipes, fishes, crowns, shields,
roses, helmets, frogs and strawberries. [For detailed description
see Lady C. Schreiber's" C Playing Cards," vol. ii, p. 11.]
41. Two fragmentary 16th century sheets (one in duplicate) well
engraved on wood in the manner of Beham, each containing
two perfect and two imperfect cards of the suits roses, birds and
bells, viz.-the 5, 6 and 7 of roses, the 2, 7, 10 and knave of
birds, and knave of bells. The knave of bells is playing guitar,
and that of birds wears a fool's cap and carries a harp.
3& x 21 in. [S. Vol. II, pl. 83.]
(c.) With Italian Suits.
42. A curious and (so far as is known) unique plate, containing eight
cards (2-9) of the suit of cups, engraved on copper by an unknown
master of the fifteenth century. The suitmarks, which are all
covered chalices remarkable for their variety and richness of
design, no two being alike, are accompanied by children, who
disport themselves in a variety of ways, several being engaged in
boring holes in the chalices to let out the liquid. Acquired at a
sale at Stuttgart, 11 April 1893.
In the opinion of Dr. Max Lehrs, the chief living authority on
Early German Prints, this plate is probably the work of the
Master of the Banderoles, an artist who is supposed to have
worked on the Lower Rhine about 1470. The general character of
the designs suggests Italian inspiration, and this may account for
the use of Italian suitmarks.

4 x 2t in.

[S. Vol. II, 1-p. 94.]