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(c) 2018 Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston
Deck of Cards
(c) 2018 Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston
(c) 2018 Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston

Deck of Cards

manufacturer (founded London, 1820-1922)
Date1867-1875
Place MadeUnited States, North America
MediumPrinted ink on card stock
Dimensions9.2 x 6.4 cm (3 5/8 x 2 1/2 in.)
ClassificationsArchival Material
Credit LineIsabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston
Accession numberU11n30
eMuseum ID729733
EmbARK ObjectID11548
Previous Number172
TMS Source ID742
Last Updated1/9/25
Status
Not on view
Web Commentary
This deck of cards was created by Charles Goodall & Sons, one of the largest British playing card makers of the 19th century.

Wrapped in a personalized ribbon, this deck was likely used by Isabella herself. She stored it in the Macknight Room, along with several other decks and playing card paraphernalia, clear evidence of her love of games.

BibliographyNotesDeandra Duarte, “The Hand Isabella Dealt: A Selection of Playing Cards in the Collection,” Inside the Collection (blog), Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, 7 January 2025, www.gardnermuseum.org/blog/isabella-playing-cards-collection
MarksNotesPrinted in ink (on ribbon around deck of cards): Mrs. JOHN L. GARDNER - FENWAY COURT - BOSTON 17, MASSACHUSETTS
ProvenanceNotesEntered Isabella Stewart Gardner's collection at an unknown date.
(c) 2018 Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston
Charles Goodall & Sons
1865-1870
(c) 2018 Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston
Charles Goodall & Sons
1865-1870
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston
Charles Scribner's Sons
1900
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston
G.P. Putnam's Sons
1894
(c) 2017 Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston
Eugene Glaenzer & Sons
18 March 1904
(c) 2017 Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston
Steinway & Sons
14 November 1902
(c) 2019 Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston
Pedro Maldonado
1875-1885
(c) 2017 Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston
Charles De Kay
1897
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston
G.P. Putnam's Sons
1921