This is an example of the rarer FIRST STATE card of Nottinghamshire, the seven of clubs. It is identified by the lack of any neighbouring counties being named. The principal towns are named, rivers, hills and roads are displayed and the map is adorned with a simple compass rose and scale of miles. Along with the dimensions of the county the bottom panel as the Explanation card in the pack states includes ‘the Latitude of the Cheife Citty or Towne, and it’s Distance from London, First the Reputed and then the Measured Miles, by Esqr: Ogilby with his leave we have Incerted’. This refers to John Ogilby’s highly influential Britannia published the previous year, 1675. This is the FIRST map of the county of Nottingham to show roads, here offered in its first state.

Following the Restoration of King Charles II there was much renewed interest in the pleasures of life in England after the puritan values of the Cromwellian era. Amongst these was a keen desire for gaming, including the use of packs of cards. Geographical cards had been issued before this date but they usually constituted descriptive text with or without a small illustration of some kind; for example, those of H. Winstanley in 1665. The mid-1670s saw a rush of cards bearing maps. The Term Catalogues for Easter Term 1676, advertised ‘The 52 Countries [sic] of England and Wales, described in a Pack of Cards … Sold by Robert Morden at the Atlas in Cornhill, Will. Berry at the Globe in the Strand, Robert Green in Budge Row, and George Minikin at the King’s Head in S. Martin’s.’ Arber (1903-06) I. 263; Skelton (1970) 94; Mann & Kingsley ‘Playing Cards’, in Map Collectors’ Circle no. 87 p.26.