"preference" ( vienna large crown pattern)

"preference"by ASS altenburger .32 c, no indexes

Preference is a the name of a game played in Austria & Russia. The cards that you see here are of the viennese large crown patern, a highly idosyncratic pattern of that country.
Interesting features to look out are the Jack of clubs, holding an impliment that  has been described as a "carpet beater" ,but I think is actually a sort of spear. Also note the king of spades, who bears the name of the company on a sash he is wearing.
the jack of hearts bears the company's address, "IN ALTENBERG" , split between the 2 flags he is holding. This pattern also comes in a 24- card form for playing schnapsen

miniature "tell pattern" piatnik

miniature "tell pattern", by piatnik. 32 cards.
a pleasing miniature of the "william tell"/ four seasons pattern.
these cards are harldly used in Germany at all, instead being used in central europe.
Note the pip cards. they have little scenes from the wtell legend, like the death of Tell's archenemy, gessleer, on the 7 of hearts.
for a Hungarian version of this pattern, see: http://anthonylesq.blogspot.com/2011/10/magyar-kartya.html

"sarde" (modanio)

Sardinian playing cards by modanio. 40 cards.
In my opinion, this pattern is the most artistic of all those used in italy
The design of this pattern barely conceals it's spanish origins. it probably was a copy of a luxury spanish deck made sometime in the 1820s. In fact, it can be said to be simply a copy of the " Baraja Neoclasica' by clemente roxas in 1810.(http://pictures.todocoleccion.net/tc/2009/06/20/13868554.jpg for a pic of the deck.)
also note the little pictures on the 4s.
compare http://anthonylesq.blogspot.com/2011/10/spanish-playing-cards.html

Romagnole (modanio)

playing cards from  Romagna, by modanio. 40 cards

another italian pattern.
The card on the far left ( that is blank save for the maker's name & a green thing  in the middle) is the ace of coins. the reason for the sparse decoration is the fact on this card went the tak stamp, and as a result, space had to be cleared for it.
also note the king of coins. in older editions of this pattern, he is shown about to stab hmself with the ax he is holding... the same as the english king of hearts!

"napoletane"( modanio)

Neopolitan playing cards  by modanio. 40 c.
the followibng pattern is used in naples, and is about the same size as the sicilian  playing cards.
note the grotesque on the 3 of batons, & the hunting scene on the 5 of swords.

sicilian pattern ( modanio)

sicilian pattern, 40 cards.
in my poinion, this pattern is probably the most charming to come from itally, for starters, the cards are only 8 x 5 centimeters!
Some features to note include the little figures on the pip cards. for example, a man & a woman are duelling on the 4 of cups.
another feature to note is the horizontal arrangement of the cups on the 6 of cups.

castilian pattern by fournier

castilian pattern by fournier. 4 cards + 2 others.

This pattern is one of the most copied patterns, and the ace of coins has been copied by countless makers , esp. in saouth america. I rest my case.

see also: http://anthonylesq.blogspot.com/2011/10/spanish-playing-cards.html