Charlotte Guest's Playing Card Collection: Property of the British Museum

The 19th century was a period of tremendous literary, cultural and intellectual growth, and it witnessed the flowering of numerous talents in various fields. Among these talents, the English translator Charlotte Guest stands out as a prominent figure, known not only for her linguistic contributions but also for the collection of playing cards now housed in the British Museum.

Charlotte Guest was an experienced linguist and translator. She is known as the first publisher in modern print format of the Mabinogion cycle, the earliest example of prose literature in Great Britain. However, it is her lesser-known passion for collecting that gives us a unique insight into this woman's multifaceted personality.

The Gests traveled Europe for many years, amassing a collection of ceramics that was later transferred to the Victoria and Albert Museum. Charlotte also collected fans, board games and playing cards. Her collection of fans was the first known in history, and she wrote several books on English and European fans.

Charlotte Guest's collection of playing cards is a testament to the creativity and love of leisurely activities that entertained people in the 19th century. Although Hest was undoubtedly a cultured and educated woman, she understood the importance of leisure and the power of such entertainment in stimulating the mind and maintaining social interactions.

Today, Charlotte Guest's collection of playing cards is a valuable historical relic, carefully preserved in the British Museum. Most of the sets are incomplete. This is understandable, because cards are objects that are often lost.

Hand-painted cards. Mostly using black and red colors. The images are different, as are the countries and the time the decks were made. For example, on German maps you can see the coats of arms of the ruling princes of Europe. In the center of each card is a coat of arms with a title above and a description below, all in German.

Charlotte Guest's collection of playing cards offers an informative window into nineteenth-century leisure. While her literary contribution remains her greatest legacy, her passion for leisure adds a new dimension to a remarkable life and contribution to the cultural heritage of her time.

Source: britishmuseum.org