smaller proportion than other of the arts. To the popularity of the
"Beggar's Opera" of John Gay, that satirical attack upon the Government
of Sir Robert Walpole, we are indebted for its songs and music appearing
as the _motif_ of the pack, from which we give here the Queen of Spades
(Fig. 22), and the well-thumbed cards before us show that they were
popular favourites. Their date may be taken as nearly coincident with
that of the opera itself, viz., 1728. A further example of musical cards
is given in Fig. 23, from a French pack of 1830, with its pretty piece
of costume headgear, and its characteristic waltz music.

[Illustration: FIG. 22.]

France has been prolific in what may be termed "Cartes de fantaisie,"
burlesque and satirical, not always designed, however, with due regard
to the refinements of well-behaved communities. They are always
spirited, and as specimens of inventive adaptation are worth notice. The
example shown (Fig. 24) is from a pack of the year 1818, and is good of
its class.

[Illustration: FIG. 23.]

[Illustration: FIG. 24.]

Of these "Cartes de fantaisie," each of the card-producing countries of
Europe has at different dates produced examples of varying degrees of
artistic value. Although not the best in point of merit, the most
generally attractive of these are the packs produced in the years
1806-7-8 and 9, by the Tuebingen bookseller, Cotta, and which were
published in book form, as the "Karten Almanack," and also as ordinary
packs. Every card has a design, in which the suit signs, or "pips," are
brought in as an integral part, and admirable ingenuity is displayed in
this adaptation; although not the best in the series, we give the Six of
Hearts (Fig. 25), as lending itself best to the purpose of reproduction,
and as affording a fair instance of the method of design.

[Illustration: FIG. 25.]

In England numerous examples of these illustrated playing cards have
been produced of varying degrees of artistic merit, and, as one of the
most amusing, we select the Knave of Spades from a pack of the year 1824
(Fig. 26). These cards are printed from copper-plates, and are coloured
by hand, and show much ingenuity in the adaptation of the design to the
form of the "pips."

[Illustration: FIG. 26.]

[Illustration: FIG. 27.]

[Illustration: FIG. 28.]

Of the same class, but with more true artistic feeling and treatment
than the preceding, we give the Deuce of Clubs, from a pack with London