Tiffany & Co Limited Edition Double Deck Playing Card Set Designed by C. E. Carryl

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Why play games using a generic set of cards when you can up the ante with this limited edition playing … Read more Why play games using a generic set of cards when you can up the ante with this limited edition playing card boxed set in pink and blue from Tiffany & Company. This unique reproduction set 1879 cards designed by Charles E. Carryl (New York, 1841 - 1920), a prosperous businessman and stockbroker turned poet and children's book author. In 1879, Carryl was commissioned to create the artwork for playing cards for Tiffany & Co. The creativity of his work for Tiffany is found in the symbolism of the face cards in both decks as described in the description card enclosed in the interior box, which reads:

-Jack of Hearts - Based on symbols of the United States
Silver dollar, cigar, and red, white, and blue Stars and Stripes pattern.

-Jack of Diamonds - Based on symbols of France
French Tri-color and flour-de-lys pattern, menu, rooster, goatee, and curled mustache.

-Jack of Clubs - Based of symbols of England
Union Jack pattern, lap dog, knickers, short pipe.

-Jack of Spades - Based on symbols of Germany
German tri-color and coat of arms, long bent pipe, trombone, walrus-like mustache.

The kings and queens found in the deck are in pairs showing the pair eating, playing musical instruments, appearing injured and ill, or sneaking in with boots in hand after a night of folly while the scowling queen awaits with a candle and bootjack in hand (perhaps for a reckoning).

Artist and author Charles Edward Carryl began his career as a writer as a distraction from his hectic life as a member of the New York Stock Exchange. His initial literary focus was business related. Later in his writing career, his primary genre became poetry and children's books, which evolved from his telling of magical and nonsense fantasy stories to his own children. Carryl later became known as the American Lewis Carroll (English author of "Alice in Wonderland"). In 1879, Carryl was commissioned to create the artwork for playing cards for Tiffany & Co. The creativity of his work for Tiffany is found in the symbolism of the face cards in both decks as described in the description card enclosed in the interior box. See less