Playing card

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This is the two of diamonds, one of a pack of 53 playing cards engraved in 1691 by Walter Scott, an Edinburgh goldsmith. The cards show the royal arms and arms of the Scottish nobility who sat in Parliament.

The arms of the Scottish Lords Falconer, Hamilton (of Belhaven), Sandilands and Carmichael are depicted on this card.

The earliest playing cards were established in Italy, France and Germany by the late fourteenth century. These were handmade, often elaborately decorated and as such were possessed only by royalty and wealthy aristocracy.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-190-000-815-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  H.NS 211
• Date: 1691
  
• Material: Card, playing / photograph
  
• Dimensions: 80 mm H x 60 mm W
  
• What: Card, playing / photograph
  
• Subject:
• Who: Lyon Office
  Walter Scott, Edinburgh (Maker)
  
• Where: Scotland, Midlothian, Edinburgh
  
• Event:
• Description: Pack of playing-cards with the arms of the Scottish nobility, by Walter Scott, Edinburgh, 1691, comprising 53 cards in all together with a photograph of the missing seven of hearts
  
• References:
  • Mann, Sylvia. Collecting Paying Cards. USA: Bell Publishing Company Inc. 1967, p 9. 
• Translations:
• Related Records: