The Devil's picture-books by Mrs. John King Van Rensselaer

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Author Van Rensselaer, John King, Mrs., 1848-1925
LoC No. 05025424
Title The Devil's picture-books
Original Publication United States: Dodd Mead and Co,1890.
Credits deaurider, Les Galloway and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive)
Summary "The Devil's Picture-Books" by Mrs. John King Van Rensselaer is a historical account written in the late 19th century. The book explores the fascinating origins and evolution of playing cards, examining how they became ingrained in various cultures across the globe despite their controversial beginnings. The author presents a detailed narrative on the cultural significance and the historical claims associated with playing cards from different nations. The opening of the book provides a comprehensive introduction to playing cards, highlighting their derisive name, "Devil’s Books," bestowed by the Puritans. It discusses the uncertainty surrounding the origin of playing cards, suggesting that they likely arrived in Europe from the East during the time of the Crusades. The text mentions the various suits originating from different cultures and delves into the historical context and evolution of card games, including the Tarots and the comparison between cards and chess. This sets the stage for a deeper exploration of the history and significance of playing cards as the reader embarks on a journey through time and culture. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
Language English
LoC Class GV: Geography, Anthropology, Recreation: Recreation, Leisure
Subject Playing cards -- History
Category Text
EBook-No. 68367
Release Date
Copyright Status Public domain in the USA.
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