Title: “Regno di Pollonia Anticamente Sarmatia” Description: Extremely rare geographical playing card with map of Poland and Lithuania, showing the course of rivers and 13 references to toponyms explained in the legend below. An early 16th-century card game was called Minchiate, originating in Florence, Italy, and played with a deck of 97 cards. Educational Minchiate decks were produced in Florence in the 18th century, Geography decks contained maps of the known world. There are 4 suits (swords, batons, cups, and coins) of 14 cards each, plus 40 tarot cards: 35 numbered I-XXXV, and 5 unnumbered cards containing maps of the world, Europe, Asia, Africa, and America. The 97th card is the “fool” or “matto,” which lists the abbreviations used on the maps. Also included are 3 preliminary cards: illustration of Atlas, title card, and dedication card. The card was published in two formats, as part of a Minchiate deck and in a miniature pocket atlas “Nuovo Atlante Generale metodico ed elementare tascabile per lo studio della geografia ed istoria antica e moderna : arricchite di varie carte delle nuove scoperte”, prepared by Agostino da Rabatta and Giovanni de Baillou, engraved by Aniello Lamberti, published in Venice, 1779. Engraver/Publisher: Aniello Lamberti Sheet size: 11,1 x 7,4 cm Year: 1779 Technique: copper engraving Condition: Very good condition, contemporary hand coloring. This are an original antique cards published in 1779 and NOT a modern copy or reprint On your request I will provide a Certificate of Authenticity
