16th C French playing Cards

Description

Game #7; 16th Centuryn French playing Cards.

Time period: 16th Century.
Players: Game dependant.
Materials: Cardstock.
Product Dimensions: Deck Dimensions; 6.2cm width x 9.5cm length x 2cm depth.

Further details:

This is a reproduction of a deck dated to 1567 that is based on a set of face cards by Pierre Marechal of Rouen, France. The cards of Rouen are significant because many were produced for export to Britain. English merchants are even said to have bought them for re-export to other countries. In 1628 England banned the importation of cards, and English printers have been shown to have used Rouen face cards as inspiration for their own cruder, more stylised decks which have become the standard motifs still used in many modern decks.

This a full 52-card deck without jokers (Jokers were not added until the 19th century. The backs are blank as was most common on early cards.