deck-24-02

I've always enjoyed the fine etching and fine detailed hand coloring of these "costume" decks and have acquired most of them over time. I've already shown one in the first Lockdown Series and four in this section. This one should have been added here a long time ago, but 2018 was a year in which we had so many nice, rare and old decks to show that it got forgotten. So to make up for that omission.........

This particular deck was printed and published by Gibert. It's known as "Jeu des Costumes Historiques Anglais" and is usually dated as c1856. It's predecessor, "Jeu des Costumes Historiques"(c1853), shows French nobility. Although a strict translation of "Anglais" would be English, in this deck nobility from different parts of the UK is represented on the kings and queens. They too are named and their names are printed in the same font as the deck from around 1853.
In the original (French) deck I was able to research most of the depicted figures, but in this English deck that turned out to be more difficult. It seems that some of the portraits rather generally refer to a title than to a specific figure, especially on the queens. They seem to be fantasy portraits, artist impressions, because the known portraits of the most plausible names do not resemble any of the portrayed ladies.

Mac-Farlann probably refers to the Scottish MacFarlane clan in general and not to a specific member, at least none that I could find. His plaid, worn hanging down from his shoulders, has the clan's ancient hunting tartan. Which is probably what this clansman is doing, as he's depicted blowing a small horn, often used in hunting.

The most plausible reference to the Countess of Argyll is that of Anne Douglas, a Scottish noblewoman who lived from 1574 to 1607. She was the first wife of Archibald Campbell, the 7th Earl of Argyll. However, his second wife was Anne Cornwallis (1590 - 1635) and also held the title of Countess of Argyll.

The jacks have no name, but on this jack the name of the maker is printed: Gibert Fabt à Paris (Fabt=Fabriquant).

Sir Rhys ap Thomas (Welsh for Rhys son of Thomas) lived from 1449 until 1525. He was a Welsh soldier and landholder. He was faithful to Henry Tudor during the War of the Roses and it is said that he personally killed Richard III in the battle of Bosworth in 1485. After his victory there Henry Tudor became Henry VII of England.

The Countess of Salisbury here represents Margaret Plantagenet (1473 - 1541). She was a niece of Richard III and after the War of the Roses had ended Henry VII arranged a marriage with his first cousin Richard Pole for her and she became known as Margaret Pole. She was granted the title of Countess of Salisbury in 1513, but was executed (beheaded) in 1541.

Just like in the previous deck is printed on one of the jacks. Here on the Jack of Hearts.

George Villiers (1592 - 1628) became the first Duke of Buckingham in the second creation of this dukedom in 1623. There's a slight resemblance with the portrayed king here. Villiers was an English courtier and statesman. Apparently he was a handsome man too and he became a favourite at the court of King James I of England since 1614. He remained in this position during the reign of James's son, Charles I, King of England, Scotland and Ireland. since 1625. George Villiers was assassinated in 1628.

Apparently there has never been a Countess of Marlborough. Research only brought a Duchess of Marlborough and the wife of the first Duke of Marlborough was Sarah Churchill (born Jennings) who lived from 1660 until 1744. Through her close relationship with Queen Anne of Great Britain she was one of the most influential women of her time. She does resemble the image here a bit.

The first Earl of Leicester was Robert Dudley (1532 - 1588). He received the title in 1564. Under the wings of Queen Elizabeth I he grew out to an important statesman and counselor. Here too there's a resemblance with the figure on the King of Diamonds.

There have been 13 countesses of Oxford since 1161, of which 11 held the title before 1864. None of them looked like this lovely Queen of Diamonds. But I'll go with a countess who was contemporary to Leicester: Anne de Vere (born Cecil). She lived from 1556 to 1588 and became countess of Oxford, when she married Edward de Vere, Earl of Oxford, in 1571.

The aces have the exact same embellishment around each pip as those in the Jeu de Costumes Historiques (1853) by Gibert.

The deck consists of 52 cards and alas came without the original box.


Mac-Farlann
	Comtesse d'Argyle


Sir Rhys Thomas
	Comtesse de Salisbury


Buckingham
	Comtesse de Marlborough


Leicester
	Comtesse d'Oxford