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If we do it might delay his patreon rewards further should he decide to rework them…

Delays? Lotrék doesn't have delays! Just delivery dates ahead of their time, lmao.

Cartes Renaissance No47, Variant 2 (53mmx80mm), Dondorf. c1858-1886. Missing JS. Faded.

I can't look enough at those scenic aces, they're beautiful - just like the courts.

Harvonsgard wrote: ↑Sun Jun 26, 2022 4:27 am I can't look enough at those scenic aces, they're beautiful - just like the courts.

I'm glad you like them - I really enjoy these as well.

The aces in high res...

So much effort put in. Loving the intellectual and hookah smoker.

Cartes Renaissance, No47, Variation 1 (64x96mm), Dondorf, c1858-1886. Missing: KH, JC. This sample probably assembled from three different decks. According to Braun, this is the earlier version of the No47 Cartes Renaissance cards. Probably first appeared with square corners, later with rounded corners. Roughly translated from Braun's original German: "This game, which is sometimes called "four-country card", is one of the oldest known Dondorf games. The year of origin is not certain and was set at 1858 rather arbitrarily. On the court cards are people from four kingdoms of the 15th century, namely the ruler, Empress, and a warrior or servant. The aces show two scenes from each country, with explanatory text in the middle of the cards. The game was on sale until about 1886. On the picture cards there is a strip of text on which the person depicted is named. [Note: variation 2 text appears along the borders.] The cards are assigned as follows: Turkish Empire-Diamonds, Kingdom of France-Hearts, Holy Roman Empire German Nation-Spades, Republic of Venice-Clubs."

Really digging this thread, by the way. Thanks for sharing, acetofive!

Hello, I have a set of cards that are similar that I would love to know more about. You all seem like the perfect folks to show them off to, maybe you have some info for me! I bought them at an antique store many years ago because I adored them. They came in a box that I can't find any other set being in, so I wonder if it's original. What do you think?

Dondorf made two patience decks featuring children on the court cards. The first, No25, had three versions - you have version 2 (the courts were slightly updated with adjustments to the artwork). Your deck was probably printed 1906-1910 ("G.m.b.H." on the JC starts appearing in 1906, and in 1910, "s/M" was changed to "a/M"). These things we know for sure - as they're documented in Braun's catalog. However, Braun also lists V2 as having round corners, but yours are square - this probably suggests a printing closer to 1906. Square corners generally appear before rounded ones, but not always. No25 was then updated with new suit symbols and this became V3. Later, Dondorf redesigned the entire deck and this became No26 with entirely new court cards. Also, the upper tax stamp on the AH usually tells us the date and where the cards were stamped. I see "907" suggesting 1907, and stamped for sale in Italy.

Wow acetofive, I am so ecstatic to have some info about these cards. Thank you so so much. I really enjoy the look of the symbols of this version and the vibrant colors of the cards. What I enjoy the most is seeing the variations of the brand that your thread created. It inspires me to look out for more cards! The picture of the case my cards came in when I bought them didn't come through in my first message, I'll attach it below. I wonder if this case is original... it's painted and it's gorgeous.

The two inner boxes are originals. I don't know enough about Dondorf to know if they also produced the outer box. I've never seen it before. There is something interesting about that box though (and it is beautiful). The symbol in the lower right corner on the cover is the Medici coat of arms - Dondorf made use of this symbol on other cards meant for sale in Italy. Look around the inside and outside of the boxes and see if there are any labels that mention Tuscany or Florence.

Patience Karten No26. c1908. Dondorf. This is the redesigned second generation (following No25) of patience cards with children as the courts.

Dondorf Kinder Spielkarten No25, 1889-1906. Braun catalogs three versions of No25 - this is version 2. Same deck as ktwidwell posted, but dated prior to 1906. Peter Endebrock dates the tax stamp from 1889 to c1913.

Empire Spiel, No 172. Dondorf, chromolithography. These courts appeared 1894-1933. This deck (No172) printed 1894-1903. Figures dressed in costumes from around 1800 as wigs and braids fell out of fashion. Jacks feature details reminiscent of the French Revolution. Printed in 13 colors, plus black and red symbols.

Dondorf Luxus-Spielkarte Vier-Erdteile (Four Continents), designed by Friedrich Karl Hausmann (1825-1886). First publication is usually dated 1870 (WOPC, Two For His Heals, etc), however, Braun lists 4 variants, starting in 1858 (although 1858 may be just Braun's best guest as the earliest Dondorf records are incomplete). The four samples at top are scanned from his book - my two decks are shown below that, variants 2 and 3. The pip cards shown in the last image are from V2, but are essentially the same for both variants.

Beautiful deck. Thanks for the photos!

Dondorf, Double Faced English Cards, "Internationales Bild für Portugal," 1867-1895.

Dondorf, Vues et Caractéres Suisses (Swiss sights and characters), 1868-1885. Translated from Braun: "On the picture cards are images of two people in the traditional costumes of different Swiss cantons. In each of two diagonally opposite corners there is a suit sign, which is supplemented by a crown in the case of the kings. The coat of arms of the canton from which the costume comes is shown in the other two corners."

In 1897 Dondorf replaced Vues et Caractéres Suisses with this deck. New Swiss scenics appear on the aces. They appeared in several variations in three sizes with various backs. Printed 1897-1933. This deck printed 1897-1901.

And now for something completely different...
Hoyle Apple Computer Playing Cards from the mid 90's.

Karl Gerich, Rouennais A, No 20, hand made cards and box, completed about 1990, Bath, England. AD features Punch and Judy, AC Moses, AS Adam and Eve, AH Pierrot and Columbine. From an edition of about 20.

Great deck! I would love to get one of his decks someday.

brownsl wrote: ↑Thu Feb 09, 2023 9:53 am Great deck! I would love to get one of his decks someday.

I will echo that. The pips remind me of Ian Cumpstey's decks. The artwork is wonderful.

Nice find.

Karl Gerich, No 25, Great Mogul, from copperplate etchings, 52 card pack, c1987-88, Bath, UK. From an edition of about 30.

Karl Gerich, No 35, "Ganesh," 1992. From an edition of about 20. This is Karl's third to last deck, and the second one fashioned after Grimaud's 1895 Cartes Indiennes.

Dondorf, Deutsches Luxusbild, No 417. Chromolithography. Printed about 1926-1933. Courts are dressed in realistic 16th century clothing, with some details in the characters referencing the German Peasants' War in Central Europe from 1524 to 1525. It was Europe's largest and most widespread uprising before the French Revolution of 1789. The artwork on the backs show Prussian Eagles.

Somehow I missed this thread until now. What an incredible collection of beautiful decks! I don’t have any older decks in my collection, but this thread sure makes me want to start scouring antique stores! Thanks so much for sharing!