An extremely rare geographical card, cartographic playing cards from this period are particularly rare. From the mid seventeenth century playing cards were often adorned with illustrations. Amongst the first to contain a full set of maps on all 52 cards are those of Robert Morden and William Redmayne of the English Counties and John Seller and James Moxon (1 known example) of the world all published in the period 1676-77. In 1696 Johann Hoffman published a further set in Nuremberg surviving in just 2 known examples, followed next by this series in Amsterdam. In the Mortier pack hearts are represented by Europe, clubs are America, spades are Africa and diamonds are Asia.

Two examples of a rule book entitled ‘Jeu de Geographie ou sont les quarters parties du Monde’ survive. Both bear the imprint of Jean Covens and Corneille Mortier. This partnership was not formalised until 1721 when Corneille took over the reigns of his father Pieter Mortier’s business. Of the five known surviving examples three are in the Schreiber Collection at the British Library, two of these are complete. An incomplete example comprising just 40 (52) cards was sold at auction in 1995 and went to a private collection. A further incomplete copy has since been dispersed from which this card originates.

Cary 2:10; Mann & Kingsley ‘Playing Cards’, in Map Collectors’ Circle no. 87 App. I no. 6 (cited as Pierre Mortier) pl. 19b; Koeman ‘Atlantes Neerlandici’ II pp. 45-51 & III pp. 4-10; O’Donoghue (1901) ‘Catalogue of the Collection of Playing Cards … Lady Charlotte Schreiber’ nos. 11, 12 & 13.