c1805 Reproduction of c1769 Blanchard Deck of Playing Cards - Ace No 59 - This deck was believed to have been made in Belgium with the idea to avoid paying tax - which in 1805 was 1/6d on the cards (the tax of 1/- on the wrapper was constant from 1756 to 1828) - This deck was a copy of a Blanchard deck produced c1769 ( aces no 40-60 were registered Jul 1769 - Blanchard died Nov 1769)- Courts slightly different to Blanchard's original (King of Spades' sword is a simple wavy line - The Jack of Club arrow has no head, The King of Hearts axe-haft is three diamonds and there is a spike behind his head - The ace of Spades has a small 5 and a larger 9 in italics, and is wood block not engraved, hence a forgery - All "forged" deck seem to have ace no 59. The condition is excellent - odd non-distracting dirty marks - no damage - natural paper stock crease of the card on the right hand side of the Ace of Spades which does not distract from the card