Playing cards, 16th century, German

This 52-card deck of 1588 is based on the works of Jost Amman, one of the more prolific artists of the German Renaissance. German printers experimented with a wide range of suit symbols, and this deck uses Books, Jars, Printers' Ink Pads and Cups. As was common in German cards, there are no jacks and queens, but rather the German equivalents of an “unter” (“under” with the suit sign at the bottom of the card), an Ober (“over” with the suit sign at the top of the card) and kings on horseback. It also features a female figure as the 10 of each suit.

This deck features prominently in the novel 'The Stockholm Octavio' by Karen Engelmann.  

Full 52-card deck without jokers. The backs are blank as was most common on early cards. Printed on uncoated off-white card stock.