These are four aces from a playing card pack manufactured by Reynolds & Son of London in about 1850. The symbols used are in the traditional French style, showing clubs, diamonds, hearts and spades. The cards have square corners, and the court / picture cards are 'single standing' – they stand one way up, and are not reflected. There are no indices – no K, Q or J on the court cards, and no numbers on the lower values. The Ace of Spades is printed with 'Duty One Shilling' printed across the top. Playing card duty: In 1694 the (British) Government Stamp Office was created to impose 'duties on vellum, parchment and paper...toward carrying on the war against France'. In 1711 a duty of sixpence per pack was levied on playing cards in Britain, even if imported. The duty, made perpetual in 1717, was abolished on 4 August 1960. The initial duty was increased by sixpence in 1756, and again in 1776, 1789, and 1801, to a total of 2s 6d. In 1828 it was reduced to one shilling, and in 1862 to three pence. (Information from The Encyclopedia of Ephemera). Vertical | Close-up | Old | Old-fashioned | Playing Card
High Resolution JPEG Picture of These are four aces from a playing card pack manufactured by Reynolds & Son of London in about 1850. The symbols used are in the traditional French style, showing clubs, diamonds, hearts and spades. The cards have square corners, and the court / picture cards are 'single standing' – they stand one way up, and are not reflected. There are no indices – no K, Q or J on the court cards, and no numbers on the lower values. The Ace of Spades is printed with 'Duty One Shilling' printed across the top. Playing card duty: In 1694 the (British) Government Stamp Office was created to impose 'duties on vellum, parchment and paper...toward carrying on the war against France'. In 1711 a duty of sixpence per pack was levied on playing cards in Britain, even if imported. The duty, made perpetual in 1717, was abolished on 4 August 1960. The initial duty was increased by sixpence in 1756, and again in 1776, 1789, and 1801, to a total of 2s 6d. In 1828 it was reduced to one shilling, and in 1862 to three pence. (Information from The Encyclopedia of Ephemera). [485685072] stock photo
