Origin of French Suit Signs
Last modified : 01 Nov 2006
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Fake duty ace of spades, c.1815. The duty on playing-cards in Great Britain in the early years of the 19th century became prohibitively expensive, reaching a maximum of two shillings and sixpence per pack. Tax evasion was common and packs were illegally imported from other European countries. The one shown above was probably printed lithographically in Belgium and is masquerading as a British pack printed from woodcut and coloured by stencil in the traditional manner.
© International Playing-Card Society, 2007
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