Playing Cards by Roger Tilley. 1973, hard bound, photos and color plates, 89 illustrations in color and black and white, 97 pages.
This beautifully illustrated history traces the design of playing cards from their origins to the present day. The author follows the changes and developments from the earliest cards in China, India and Persia, to the beginning of the four suited pack in the fourteenth century Italy.
He then shows how the Germans used woodcuts to produce intricate designs which were superceded by the simpler designs of the French. He describes how they evolved and many of the photographs which were specially photographed from all over the world.
Chapters on: The Italian and Spanish Packs, The German Pack, The French and Belgian Packs, The English Pack, The American and Russian Packs, Special Packs. Light foxing top page edges.
Condition fine. |