Facts and Speculations on the Origin and History of Playing CardsChatto, William Andrew
History
Facts and Speculations on the Origin and History of Playing Cards
Chatto, William Andrew
Playing cards -- History
In the political pamphlets which appeared in opposition to the ministry
in the latter part of the reign of George II, the club at White's is
frequently alluded to; and in 'A Political and Satirical History of the
years 1756, 1757, 1758, 1759, and 1760, in a series of one hundred and
four Humourous and Entertaining Prints,'[211] the gaming propensities
of Lord Anson, the circumnavigator, who was at the same time a member
of the club and of the government, are keenly satirised. In Plate 7
he is represented as a Sea Lion, with the body of a man and the tail
of a fish; in one hand he holds a dice-box, and in the other a card;
and on the wall are two pictures, the one showing an E.O. table, and
the other a table covered with money, with the inscription "_Blacks_
and WHITES." In another print he figures as the Knave of Diamonds,
with the inscription at the top, "_Hic niger est_;" and at the bottom,
"ACAPULCA." In the Key prefixed to the work the person represented
is thus denounced: "This caricatura's propensity to gaming tells us
at once how valuable he must be to a shipwrecked state, and that he
deserves (like a drunken pilot in a storm) to be thrown overboard, to
make room for one of clearer brains and more integrity." The three
other Knaves are: SPADES, inscribed "Monsr. Dupe;" and in the Key it is
said that, by the flower-de-luces, seen on the ground, is expressed,
"how much this caricatura was connected with our enemies, and was even
a Dupe to them against the interests of his country." HEARTS, with a
fox's head, and inscribed "Monsr. Surecard:" in the Key it is said
that this character "infers, by the sharpness of the nose, that craft
and subtilty which is natural to creatures of a similar kind, known by
the name of FOXES, and is here pointed out as a Knave." CLUBS, with a
broken yoke in his hand, and inscribed "Null Marriage:" the Key says,
"this caricatura was esteemed the most atrocious Knave in the pack, and
the worst of the black sort."
Another plate in the same series of caricatures displays the gamester's
coat of arms. The shield is charged with cards, dice, and dice-boxes,
and is surrounded by a chain, from which hangs a label inscribed
"CLARET." Supporters, two Knaves. Crest, a hand holding a dice-box.
Motto, "_Cog it_ AMOR NUMMI." In Plate 90, of which a copy is here
given, the principal performers figuring on the political stage in
1759 are represented as coat cards.[212] In the suit of HEARTS, the
King, Optimus, is George II; Queen, Britannia; Knave, Pitt. DIAMONDS,
King, the King of Prussia; Queen, the City of London; Knave, Prince
Ferdinand. SPADES, King, the King of Poland; Queen, the Queen of
Hungary; Knave, Holland. CLUBS, King, the King of France; Queen,
Gallia; Knave, Marshal Broglie. In the Key it is said that "the labels
and characters here represented are sufficient to explain the meaning
of the print, with the least application."
[Illustration: The Court Cards of 1759 or Hearts is Trump & has won the
Game.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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