The Captain H. E. Rimington-Wilson example of an extremely rare set of geographical cards. The sale at Christies London in 1971 offered one of the finest collections of playing cards to have come to market in the modern era. The survival of a complete pack of playing cards over three hundred years is by definition quite remarkable. 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. Those of the world both followed a similar format of one continent per suit with the continent as a whole being depicted on the lead map. 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. They are shown in the French style: The King is represented by the continent. Within each suit are 12 further maps of the different countries featured. The Court cards are Roi, Dame, Prince and Cavalier.

This example was imported to England soon after publication as the two of clubs bears a British tax stamp. From 1711 to 1744 a tax was placed on playing cards and all sets had to bear a stamp on them to show that it had been paid. Closer examination of the stamp tells us that this set was in Britain between 1711 and 1718. It is possible that this Rimington-Wilson set was in the possession of his ancestor John Wilson (1719-83) who was a noted collector of eclectic items including topographical material.

The placement of a date between 1711 and 1718 has interesting consequences on their authorship. 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. Pieter died in 1711 and his brother David Mortier returned from London to assist his widow Amelia in running the business. It is in our opinion in this period that these cards were produced. London was a market familiar with gaming and geographical sets of cards. This knowledge would not have escaped David Mortier’s notice and it is highly likely that he produced this set of cards to meet that market, one in which he would have retained very strong contacts.

Notable cards in the series include those of Borneo, Java, Sumatra, Ceylon, Japan and China in Asia. In America are Florida, California depicted as an island and North America. Europe contains fine maps of the British Isles, Iceland, the Greek Archipelago, Poland and Scandinavia. Africa includes Madagascar and South Africa.

Of the six known surviving examples three are in the Schreiber Collection at the British Library, two of these are complete. An incomplete example is in the Cary Collection, Beinecke Library, Yale consisting of 49 (52) cards. A further incomplete example with just 40 (52) cards was sold at auction in 1995 and went to a private collection. A further incomplete copy has since been dispersed. This example represents therefore one of only three complete examples, one of the earliest proven issue and the only one in private hands.

Provenance: manuscript ownership inscription of Mr. Rimington-Wilson of Broomhead Hall inside both front covers dispersed at Christies, London 24 November 1971 lot 339; Sylvia Mann collection. Cary 2:10; Hubbard (2012) no. 70; 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.