Playing cards. [Wust, C.L. Frankfurt]. Circa 1920.

Playing cards. [Wust, C.L. Frankfurt]. Circa 1920. An exquisite and complete set of miniature playing cards. Each card measures approximately 12 x 17 mm. or 1/2" x 3/4". The set is complete,  52 in total. They are in very good condition. The matching box is original and in good condition, holding together well but a little scuffed on the corners. The design on the backs is reminiscent of a William Morris influence. This set have no makers mark but match similar sets made in Germany by card maker C.L. Wust of Frankfurt, maker of playing cards between 1811 and 1927 including four almost identical packs donated to Queen Mary's Dolls' House. Perhaps because the cards were given by a German relative of the Royal Princesses or because the manufacturer was German not British, or because they were not the correct 1/12 scale, the cards were removed from the House and are not in the Library contents in Appendix 1 of the 1924 'Book of the Queen's Dolls' House', nor in Lucinda Lambton's 2010 'Index of Artists, Craftsmen, and Manufacturers'. So almost identical packs of cards were once in the House but were not made specifically for it. 197 firsts2024