Arthur Szyk Playing Cards

The Fisher Library has recently acquired a limited edition set of playing cards illustrated by the Jewish artist Arthur Szyk. Titled "Heroes of ancient Israel: the playing card art of Arthur Szyk," each of the cards features a hero of ancient Israel: four kings - Saul, David, Solomon and Hezekiah; four women of courage - Deborah, Ruth, Esther and Judith - as the queens; and four warriors - Judah Maccabee, Simon Bar Giora, Bar Kokhba and John of Giscala - as the jacks.

The boxed set includes two decks of playing cards: one a collector's deck with the images full size, the second a player's deck with the images reduced and doubled, a suite of twelve fine art prints featuring each of the figures and a 60-page book explaining the imagery of the portraits and providing historical background.

Click here for the catalogue record of the playing cards.

This purchase complements nicely the Szyk Haggadah which the Fisher Library acquired last year.