Playing card

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This is the one of clubs, 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 Lords Ruthven, Rutherford and Bellenden are depicted on the card.

In the fifteenth century, the introduction of wood-block printing meant that playing cards were less expensive and more popular. Previous to this they had been handmade and owned only by royalty or the very wealthy.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-190-000-825-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: