THE QUEEN'S BINDING: PINNACLE PLAYING CARDS
The Paperblanks tradition of reproducing vintage book covers showcases our appreciation of decorative bookbinding traditions. Now these beautiful designs are available in high-quality playing cards.
Nobility and grace reach new heights in this lush green design. Originally crafted by the Queens’ Binder 'A', one of the most prolific book binders of the Restoration period, the binding held Richard Allestree’s The Government of the Tongue. The balance of open space and intricate elements, like the gorgeous frame and harmonious little stars, make it a shining jewel of 17th-century English bookbinding.
The 'Queens’ Binder' was a name given by G.D. Hobson to a small group of English bookbinders during the Golden Age of English Bookbinding. They were known for featuring pointillé outlines rather than floral volutes, which were much more widely used during the era.
Modern research indicates that the Queens’ Binder was in fact four distinct shops, and even individual binders such as 'A' could refer to multiple artisans. The quality of the bindings attributed to A also vary considerably, but there is no question as to the excellence of this specific piece. The Government of the Tongue was an important work during its day and, as provost of Eton College, Allestree would have been able to demand the highest quality for his publication.
Today, the original binding is a part of the Henry Davis gift at the British Library.
- Standard poker deck of 52 playing cards, 2 Joker cards and 1 design story card
- High quality 300gsm card stock using FSC-certified paper
- Performance coating for a smooth finish
- Borderless back card design with perfectly mirrored imagery
- Customized face cards featuring Paperblanks branded design elements
- Full-colour printing with metallic inks on the back card design
- Shrink-wrapped deck to protect from moisture
- Durable tuck box luxuriously accented with metallic foil and embossed texturing, sealed with a custom-branded seal