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Transformation Playing Cards
Perhaps the most interesting of all non-standard types of playing cards are those in which the pip cards (10 to Ace) have been changed or transformed by the addition of drawings that include the suit mark as an integral part of the picture. The first transformation cards were illustrated for a German edition of Hudibras, which had been written more than a century earlier by the English poet Samuel Butler. The cards were published in three parts in 1663, 1664 and 1678, but, at the time, there was no attempt to form a complete pack of cards.
Twelve transformation cards were engraved by Christoph Haller von Hallerstein and dated 1802. This incomplete set was published the following year as "Bout-Rimes Pittoresques." There also exists in the National Museum in Warsaw, Poland an incomplete transformation pack, circa 1802, created by the portraitist and illustrator Jan Rusten.
The first complete transformation pack was published in sheet form in England in 1803. Designed by John Nixon, it sold under the title "Metastasis." The most famous of the early and complete transformation packs were printed in Germany between 1805 and 1811, with the exception of the year 1808, and are known as the Cotta packs after the publisher and book sellers, J. C. Cotta of Tubingen who started a series of Karten-Almanachs. The first American transformation deck was published in 1833 by Charles Bartlett, but it was nearly identical to several decks produced in Europe about 15 years earlier. In the past 200 years, some 75 different transformation packs have appeared, most of European origin.
Harlequin Transformation Deck, 1879, New York, Tiffany & Co., 52 of 52 cards. This delightful deck was designed by C.E. Carryl and is considered the most skillful and artistic of the American transformation decks. The pip cards have clever witticisms with appropriate humorous illustrations, for example in the suit of spades, Election News depicts ten bespectacled gentlemen anxiously reading election results, A Witches' Frolic shows nine dancing witches enjoying their dance routine, The First Bird depicts eight bird hunters happily approaching a solitary bird sitting on a tree trunk, and The Alderman's Lunch shows seven waiters carrying a variety of food and wine to feed their diners. The court cards are modified in a humorous fashion, the king of spades wears an eye patch, his right arm is in a sling, and he walks with the aid of a stick due to a wrapped foot, the queen appears to have a tooth ache and she obviously is feeling distress despite the bottle of tonic in her hands, and the musically talented jack prefers to smoke his pipe, the king of clubs appears tipsy and is quietly sneaking home, but the queen is waiting up for him, her stern face foretelling what awaits him, the king and queen in the suit of hearts suggest a popular nursery rhyme, "The Queen of Hearts, She Made Some Tarts, All on a Summer's Day," the jack is winking while smoking a cigar and carrying a large silver dollar, the king and queen of diamonds are musically inclined, while the jack reads a menu and clutches an unsuspecting rooster. Full length courts, square corners, no indices, full gilt edges. Backs are tartan plaid with center medallion of a harlequin on horseback in red. Includes original box. Ace of spaces reads, "Harlequin Playing Cards Tiffany & Co. Paris, New York, London, Designed by C.E. Carryl." Cards in generally fine condition, original box with some losses. Dawson, 206, T4. (2)
Details
Harlequin Transformation Deck, 1879, New York, Tiffany & Co., 52 of 52 cards. This delightful deck was designed by C.E. Carryl and is considered the most skillful and artistic of the American transformation decks. The pip cards have clever witticisms with appropriate humorous illustrations, for example in the suit of spades, Election News depicts ten bespectacled gentlemen anxiously reading election results, A Witches' Frolic shows nine dancing witches enjoying their dance routine, The First Bird depicts eight bird hunters happily approaching a solitary bird sitting on a tree trunk, and The Alderman's Lunch shows seven waiters carrying a variety of food and wine to feed their diners. The court cards are modified in a humorous fashion, the king of spades wears an eye patch, his right arm is in a sling, and he walks with the aid of a stick due to a wrapped foot, the queen appears to have a tooth ache and she obviously is feeling distress despite the bottle of tonic in her hands, and the musically talented jack prefers to smoke his pipe, the king of clubs appears tipsy and is quietly sneaking home, but the queen is waiting up for him, her stern face foretelling what awaits him, the king and queen in the suit of hearts suggest a popular nursery rhyme, "The Queen of Hearts, She Made Some Tarts, All on a Summer's Day," the jack is winking while smoking a cigar and carrying a large silver dollar, the king and queen of diamonds are musically inclined, while the jack reads a menu and clutches an unsuspecting rooster. Full length courts, square corners, no indices, full gilt edges. Backs are tartan plaid with center medallion of a harlequin on horseback in red. Includes original box. Ace of spaces reads, "Harlequin Playing Cards Tiffany & Co. Paris, New York, London, Designed by C.E. Carryl." Cards in generally fine condition, original box with some losses. Dawson, 206, T4. (2)