Apache Playing Cards, Partial Set (20), 19th C.

Apache

Second half 19th Century | Hide, Paints | Item 2084

A total set of Apache playing cards contain 40, so this is a half deck at 20. This is a particularly attractive set, in a primal way, and are likely early, estimated to be the last half of the 19th century. All of the cards are very close to the same size and all have strongly rounded corners. The hide is a mellow brown color and the cards show much use on both sides – oils and dirt all rubbed in. The hide is relatively thin and bendable. There are 4 different colors used as best as I can tell: earth red, sepia yellow, grey/blue and black. The colors all appear to be mineral paints with no commercial dyes.

Six of the cards are Court Cards, two with soldiers on horses and four as Kings. The horse can be seeing rearing on one of the cards. Six of the cards are Coins, all running in consecutive order (2-7), as noted by the golden round orbs. Six of the cards are Swords with three each of two different types. Finally, two of the cards belong to the Cups group.

There is an excellent reference book titled Playing Cards of the Apache A Study in Cultural Adaptation, Virginia Wayland, Harold Wayland, Alan Ferg, Wayland Playing Card Monographs No. 4, Screenfold Press, 2006. There are 40 examples of sets in public institutions and 12 in private collections.