Boston Rare MapsSpecializing in rare, important and unusual American maps and prints
An attractive and unrecorded broadside advertisement for Union Playing Cards. Background The New York-based American Card Company introduced its Union Playing Cards in 1862, no doubt to capitalize on patriotic fervor early in the Civil War. The cards eliminated the traditional suits and replaced them with an American eagle, the United States flag, a star, and a […]
An early and rare deck of American playing cards, complete and in excellent condition. Playing cards are difficult to produce, requiring special paper and coatings as well as a capacity for color printing, and their manufacture came late to America and probably did not begin until after the Revolution. (Dawson, Hochman Encyclopedia of American Playing Cards, […]
A complete and uncut set of a charming geographical card game, scarce in this condition. The game includes 52 cards arranged in the usual four suits, each dedicated to a different continent: hearts to Europe, diamonds to Asia, spades to Africa, and clubs to the Americas. Each card features a kingdom or region followed by a list […]
A delightful and excessively rare deck of hand-colored geographic playing cards, complete and in brilliant condition. The deck consists of 52 cards in 4 suits, as with a regular pack of cards. Here, however, each suit is assigned a continent: Hearts represent Europe; diamonds, Africa; spades, Asia; and clubs the Americas. The Ace through Queen of […]
A rare American history card game for children. The deck consists of an explanation card, 11 cards representing the Presidents, and 28 representing the states of the Union. The Presidential cards are illustrated with portraits and the state cards with state seals. Facts relating to the subject at hand are printed on each card. The game […]
A rare and delightful deck of hand-colored geographic playing cards, complete and in brilliant condition. The deck consists of 52 cards in 4 suits, with each suit corresponding to a continent: hearts represent Europe; clubs, Africa; diamonds, Asia; and spades, the Americas. The ace of each suit bears a continent map, the two through ten feature […]
A very rare early 19th-century playing cards designed to educate players on “the sublime Science of Astronomy.” The set consists of 52 cards in 4 suits, as with a regular pack of cards. Here, however, each suit is assigned a season: Hearts represent Spring; Diamonds, Summer; Clubs, Autumn; and Spades, Winter. Cards 1 through 7 of […]