ANTIQUE 1830 THOMAS CRESWICK GEORGIAN PLAYiNG CARDS WITH FIZZLE ACE OF SPADES

Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this absolutely sublime original 1830 Thomas Creswick Georgian complete playing cards set with rare Fizzle Ace of spades

A truly lovely early suite, these are fine indeed, they almost always come up for sale with cards missing in half or part sets

Thomas Creswick, 16 Skinner Street, Snow Hill, London

Thomas Creswick was a paper-maker and wholesale stationery who first entered the card business in 1812. Standard woodblock & stencil playing cards were produced from c.1820 onwards, following the traditional designs, including smaller-sized piquet packs and a special non-standard pack featuring historical kings and queens of various nations in c.1830. Advertisements of the day mentioned that Creswick took great pains to make cards which slip easily in the hand whilst also introducing improvements in the manufacturing process. Duty Aces of Spades were registered from c.1820, and an exportation Ace of Spades in 1828.

These are an English playing cards pack with the rare ‘Frizzle’ Ace of Spades manufactured by Thomas Creswick, c.1830. This pack uses Creswick more usual type of court card designs, except the red jacks which are of the Stone Type II kind. Image courtesy Ken Lodge.

King of Clubs. Pope wrote “That long behind he trails his pompous robes. And, of all the monarchs only grasps the globe”. The title “King of Clubs” was bestowed by Johnson on the Literary Club.

In his advertising sheet dating to about 1832, Creswick informed his customers that he had removed his ‘Warehouse and Manufactory’ to larger and more commodious premises at 4 Chandos St, ‘where he has now room enough for the sale of Paper of every variety, as well as the goods of his own Production’. As well as writing paper and playing cards, he offered various of his own papers, including ‘prepared smooth and rough surface’ white drawing papers, ‘tinted and coloured Drawing Papers, Originally invented by him with prepared Surface…’

The condition is sublime for the period, I may have them framed to preserve them further in due course

Dimensions

Height:- 8.7cm

Width:- 6.7cm

Please note all measurements are taken at the widest point, if you would like any additional or specific measurements please ask

Any questions please feel free to ask before you bid

Condition

Please view the very detailed pictures as they form part of the description around condition

Please note vintage period and original items such as leather seating will always have natural patina in the form of cracking creasing and wear, we recommend regular waxing to ensure no moisture is lost, also hand dyed leather is not recommended to sit in direct sunlight for prolonged periods of time as it will dry out and fade.