$9,500
Original Apache Playing Cards. Ca. 1880. 38 (of 40), VG (bowed as expected). Hand painted on leather with Spanish suit signs. Plain backs, rounded corners. Colors are predominantly red, yellow, blue and brown. 3 ½ x 2 ¼”. Though Apaches tribes of the American Southwest had access to printed paper cards as early as 1581, as they adopted Mexican games like Monte, so did they manufacture cards from horse hide and other native leathers. Most decks were modeled after Spanish 40-card packs. These handmade cards have broad cross-collectible appeal, particularly to Native American and old west collectors, as well as playing card aficionados. Five similar packs are part of the permanent collection of the Gene Autry Museum of Los Angeles. A partial deck of 37 recently sold at auction for $19,000.
Auctioneer:
Potter & Potter
Date:
2014-06-01
