Animal Tarock, circa 1815-1820, Warsaw, J. DuPort, 78 of 78 cards, stencil colored copper engravings, ace of hearts contains Polish tax stamp, 8 zloty (probably dating to the last king Stanislaus II Poniatowski, ruled 1764-1795) and Polish-Russian tax stamp, 1 ruble, 20 kopeks (probably issued after the Congress of Vienna,1814-1815, established a nominally independent Polish kingdom, "Congress Poland," 1815-1830.) Trumps are full-length figures, double-ended Roman numerals, trumps depict animals, some are mythological and a few accompanied by human or fanciful figures either standing or riding, trump III depicts a monkey or hairy beast holding a bundled child in front of a gatehouse with another child perched at the pinnacle, IIII is a crowned camel ridden by a sultan holding a parasol, X is a unicorn with a mermaid's tail, XI depicts an ostrich clutching an horseshoe in its mouth in evidence of the legendary prowess of its digestive system. Courts are full-length figures, French suits, no indices, square corners, court figures are dressed in ornate costumes and adorned with jewels, the kings, knights and valets wear headdresses, probably indicating different domains, the knight of hearts represents John III Sobieski (1624-1698), king of Poland, who wears a Turkish headdress probably representing his successful defeat of the Turks at Khotin in 1673, the valet of hearts holds a shield bearing the coat of arms of Stanislaus II Poniatowski, the quartered shield depicts the eagle of Poland in the first and third quarters and the so-called "Chase (Phania) of Lithuania" or charging horseman in the second and fourth quarters, the small shield in the center contains an ox, the coat of arms of the Poniatowski family. The valet of diamonds holds an halbred and a shield that reads, "Fabrique de Cartes de J. DuPort a Versovie." DuPort was a card maker of French origin who founded in 1780 the important Fabryka Kart Kraiowa (National Card Factory). The designs on this deck reflect features from a pack produced at the end of the 18th century by the Munich card maker, Andreas Benedictus Gobl. Includes original paper wrapper with fee of 90 kopeks and showing the Russian double-headed eagle evidencing that the cards were sold when Warsaw was under Russian occupation. The device on the wrapper depicts a pelican feeding and caring for its young, encircled by a round panel with Russian text that reads, "For the benefit of the imperial education house," the wrapper also includes unidentified initials "AM," the double-headed eagle refers to the Russian empire. Backs are overall geometric pattern of stars in brown. Size 4 1/4 in. (10.8 cm.) high, 2 1/4 in. (5.7 cm.) wide. Cards in generally fine condition, wrapper damaged and losses. Kaplan II, 426-428. (2)