Nine Diamonds, Antique Playing Cards, Presumed Belgian, Late 18th C. bird pattern very heavy for its size

very heavy for its size so great as a paperweight

but if not for cards

I’ve been finding especially lovely ones of the English Coast

and a couple of  minor stains to the surface of the checkerboard area

Nine Diamonds, Antique Playing Cards, Presumed Belgian, Late 18th C. bird pattern very heavy for its sizeI first purchased a batch of heart pips from this very same deck from a seller in Holland, who has been parsing them out a few at a time. When he posted these I snatched them up immediately I think they are just extraordinarily beautiful! I believe they date to the 1780s or so and are likely Belgian, which was a hub for playing card production in the 18th century, largely for export to England. I just love their imperfectly cut, square edged,