1770-1775. Complete set of playing cards, comprising engraved title card, engraved seller’s advertisement card and 52 engraved pictorial cards bearing details of mythological characters; three cards hand-coloured, all good strong impressions, seller’s card on different stock somewhat browned and with small abrasion and manuscript number ‘42/6’ in top right-hand corner, ‘Morpheus’ card on same variant card stock, also somewhat browned, remaining cards with general soiling and browning but generally clean and bright; housed within the original card box, with engraved label on upper cover (somewhat faded), one side of box split with loss, with heavy wear to all sides; despite box wear, a fine and scarce set. Extremely scarce and striking educational game introducing children and young adults to Greek and Roman mythology through a series of 52 engraved pictorial cards giving the details of famous mythological figures and scenes. The title card promises that even those of a more mature age may find them amusing. Each card is divided into two halves, with double line borders. An elegant neo-classical engraving adorns the top half, representing a deity, hero, or memorable event selected from myths and religions of antiquity. Each deity is distinguished by the emblems which are usually associated with them. Brief explanatory notes are found below. Both epic heroes and Olympians are highlighted, together with a wealth of supporting characters. Thus we are introduced to: ‘Circe, Perseus, Vulcan, Charon, Europa, Adonis, Neptune, Bellona, Arachne, Mars, Ulysses, Ajax and others, and incidents such as Apollo's transformation of Prince Cypariss into a cypress (sic) tree, and the Nine Muses' transformation of the Nine Daughters of Pierus, King of Macedonia, into magpies’ (Cotsen). There are two cards for two characters (Ceries and Iphis) both different, referring to separate incidents. Three of the cards have been hand-coloured by a previous owner, evidently at an early date. Willerton’s advertisement card includes an image of Mount Olympus.