King of Hearts (Gathelus) Baker and Co's Eclectic Cards
Printmaker:
Unknown
Publisher:
Baker & Co
A hand-coloured etching and engraving on pasteboard of a King wearing Turkish-style costume, including a turban with crescent moon motif, red turkish slippers, holding a long spear in his right hand and a shield with the image of a crocodile on it in his left. In the background there is a mountainous landscape with white tents to the right. The figure represents Gathelus, 'The Grecian prince, King of Ireland', as described in the Baker & Co. pamphlet that was published with the cards, see below. Gathelus, or Goídel Glas, was a legendary figure known as the ancestor of the Gaels. A large, fleshy, three-dimensional heart at upper right. The card is untitled. From a pack of 52 playing cards which employs fanciful suits based on French and German models themed according to the countries of the United Kingdom: England (Acorns), Scotland (Diamonds), Wales (Spades) and Ireland (Hearts). The British Museum has a set of these cards (1848,1209.296-349) which includes an uncoloured title-card printed with the publisher's details as follows: 'Baker & Co's Eclectic Cards. For England, Ireland, Scotland & Wales. Sold Wholesale and Retail at their Manufactory, No. 2 King Arthur or New Card Court, York Street, Black Friar's Road, London. N.B. To be had of all Respectable Stationers in the United Kingdom'. This pack is also accompanied by a twelve-page printed pamphlet which gives, 'A short account of Baker and Co.'s Complete, Grand, Historical, Eclectic Cards, for England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales, being a selection or an Eclectic Company of Twelve of the most eminent personages that ever distinguished themselves in those respective countries for Heroic Deeds, Wisdom, &c.', and which was printed by Theodore Page, Black Friar's Road in 1813.
Given by E. Evelyn Barron, 1940-02-06
Method of acquisition: Given (1940-02-06) by Barron, E. Evelyn
19th Century
Production date:
circa
AD 1813
Height 114mm x width 71mm
Hand colouring
Engraving
Etching
Accession number: P.2-1940(27)
Primary reference Number: 225098
Willshire (1876): English 183
Schreiber (playing cards): 1.102
Stable URI
Owner or interested party:
The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department:
Paintings, Drawings and Prints
This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:
The Fitzwilliam Museum (2024) "King of Hearts (Gathelus)" Web page available at: https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/225098 Accessed: 2024-11-24 17:24:24
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{{cite web|url=https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/225098
|title=King of Hearts (Gathelus)
|author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2024-11-24 17:24:24|publisher=The
University of Cambridge}}
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