In the reign of Queen Anne and that of George I, several packs of satirical and fanciful cards were published. A pack of the latter description, now in the possession of Thomas Heywood, Esq., of Pendleton, near Manchester, relates entirely to the subject of love. Each card is neatly engraved on copper; and, from the stamp on the Ace of Spades, it appears evident that they were manufactured and sold for the purposes of play. The subject of this card is a Cupid plucking a rose, with the inscription "In love no pleasure without pain," and the following verses at the foot:
"As when we reach to crop y^e blooming rose From off its by'r, y^e thorns will interpose; So when we strive the beauteous nymph to gain, Y^e pleasures we pursue are mixed with pain."
All the other cards have, in the same manner, explanatory verses at the foot. The mark of the suit is placed at the top, to the left, and above it is engraved the value of the card, in Roman numerals. In the coat cards, the name of each,--King, Queen, or Knave--is engraved above the mark of the suit. This pack has been in the possession of Mr. Heywood's family for upwards of a century.
A pack of satirical cards, belonging to W. H. Diamond, Esq., Frith street, Soho square, appear to have been executed about the same time. Each subject has an explanatory couplet at the bottom, and the value of each in the game is indicated by a small card engraved at the top, to the left. As in the other pack, there is a red stamp on the Ace of Spades. All the subjects are coarsely engraved, though some of them display points of character very much in the style of Hogarth. In the Three of Spades there is a billiard-table, at which a gentleman is playing with a curved cue. The inscription is:
"Think not a losing gamester will be fair, "Who at y^e best ne're playd upon the square."
In the Ten of Spades, a Moorfields quack is seen pointing to his sign, with the inscription:
"To famed Moorfields I dayly do repair; Kill worms, cure itch, and make y^e ladies fair."
In the Ace of Diamonds, a lady is seen showing her palm to a fortune-teller, with the inscription:
"How can you hope this Gipsey drabb should know The Fates decrees, and who was made for you."