Replica of the 1804 Cotta transfomration deck, it was created to honor Johann Wolfgang Goethe (1749-1832), considered the greatest man of letters of all time who cultivated studies of naturaral scients, music and the arts.  The images that make up this deck are alleged to have been inspired by Goethe and others.  The card backs feature a mirrored portrait of Goethe.

Karten Almanach #1 published by J. G. Cotta in 1804 for the year 1805. Designed by Grafin Charlotta von Jennison-Walworth and made by stipple engraving on copper plates. The court cards are characters from Die Jungfrau von Orleans by Friedrich von Schiller – Germany’s great poet, dramatist, philosopher and historian. The King of Spades is general Talbot, the English commander of the outpost of Orleans at Saint Loup, France. The Queen of Spades is Jeanne d’Arc who inspired the French army to victory. This deck is often, though not in this case, named in her honour when reproduced. This particular reproduction is called Goethe after the German writer Johann Wolfgang Goethe (pronounced Gerta) who was alive at the time this deck was first printed.

NOTE – This deck was incorrectly deleted from the database and manually re-created.