Fairs | January 23, 2025 | Alex Johnson

Rare Books and Playing Cards at the 2025 Winter Show

Peter Harrington

Elizabeth I's signed lottery letter, 1567

More than 70 exhibitors will showcase a range of rare books, ephemera, art, and design at The Winter Show 2025.

Among those at the show running January 24 though February 2 will be Peter Harrington Rare Books. Among its offerings are:

  • John F. Kennedy's 1961 inaugural address, a signed presentation edition inscribed by JFK
  • Franklin D. Roosevelt's anti-war address (1936) inscribed to Eleanor Roosevelt
  • George Washington's autograph land survey (1751), a rare, hand-drawn map from the 19-year-old Washington
  • Elizabeth I's 1567 signed lottery letter marking the birth of England's first public lottery, signed by the queen

This year, Daniel Crouch Rare Books will be presenting a collection of playing cards from The Jean Verame Collection, the largest held in private hands. Verame is a French visual artist, and the author of three books on playing cards and games, Les merveilleuses cartes à jouer du XIXè siècle (1989), Sublimes cartes à jouer (2007), and Les Très beaux objets du jeu (2014).
 
The offering spans seven centuries and five continents, including rare examples of cards made from silk and silver, Apache cards on rawhide, and engraved, hand-coloured cards depicting mythological and historical characters, fables, wedding games, and fortune telling. The collection will be offered for sale en bloc for a seven figure sum.

Peruvian Playing Cards, engraved on silver, seventeenth century, one of three known examples
1/5
Daniel Crouch Rare Books

Peruvian Playing Cards, engraved on silver, 17th century, one of three known examples

Apache playing cards, on leather, nineteenth century
2/5
Daniel Crouch Rare Books

Apache playing cards, on leather, 19th century

An illuminated tarot card, fifteenth century
3/5
Daniel Crouch Rare Books

An illuminated tarot card, 15th century

Portrait du Dauphiné, Lyon, 1500
4/5
Daniel Crouch Rare Books

Portrait du Dauphiné, Lyon, 1500

Jehan de Dale, Lyon, 1480
5/5
Daniel Crouch Rare Books

Jehan de Dale, Lyon, 1480