Originally published in Tübingen, Germany, in 1805 by publisher J.G. Cotta, this remarkable deck transforms the suit symbols into intricate narrative scenes. The designs are attributed to Countess von Jenison-Walworth, making this one of the earliest known transformation decks created by a female artist.
This 2013 reproduction by Éditions Atlas faithfully recreates the rare original preserved in the prestigious Kharbine-Tapabor Collection in Paris. The deck is particularly notable for its elegant neoclassical style and its inclusion of Joan of Arc, alongside historical, allegorical, and domestic scenes characteristic of early nineteenth-century European card art.
🔹 Reproduction published by Éditions Atlas in 2013
🔹 Based on the rare 1805 Tübingen edition
🔹 Artwork attributed to Countess von Jenison-Walworth
🔹 Standard 52-card deck(complete)
🔹 Card size: approximately 10.5 × 7 cm
🔹 French publication
Condition
🔹 Cards are in excellent condition
🔹 Box present with light wear and minor corner wear from storage
🔹 Clean, bright cards with sharp printing
🪶 Collector's Note
Long before modern artistic playing cards became fashionable, the creators of transformation decks were turning ordinary card symbols into miniature works of art. Instead of simply placing pips on a card, artists cleverly integrated them into scenes of daily life, mythology, literature, and history.
The 1805 Cotta deck is considered one of the masterpieces of the genre and occupies a special place in playing-card history. Surviving originals are exceptionally scarce, with examples known from major collections such as the Kharbine-Tapabor Collection in Paris and the Fournier Museum in Spain.
The elegant engraving style, subtle hand-colored appearance, and historical figures such as Joan of Arc make this deck especially desirable for collectors of antique playing cards, transformation decks, and early nineteenth-century graphic art.
A beautiful reproduction of a deck that most collectors will never encounter in its original form.
