About the Cards in This Deck
These cards are of unusual interest in that their backs are true reproductions, in essential detail, of the earliest printed playing cards of Europe that have ever been found. The originals were printed from wood blocks in Pro-vence, France about 1440 A. D.
Playing cards reportedly originated in China and were brought to Europe by way of the Near East. The Europeans promptly Westernized the cards, adopting as honors a group of medieval court figures. The designs used here are two of the Jacks, one depicting Sir Lancelot, the other Hogier LaDanois, one of Charlemagne's lieutenants.
These cards were printed especially it Eastman Kodak Company, to be distributed solely through Kodak Verifax dears.
