Johnson 5,3

Designs for cards for a game of the ganjifa type.

Commissioned by Richard Johnson, Lucknow, c.1780-82.

Richard Johnson Collection. Purchased 1807.

Inscribed with the titles of the suits in Persian characters: ‘taj’ (crown)’, sefid’ (white), ‘shamshir’ (sword), ‘ghulam’ (slave),’ chanak’ (harp),’ surkh’ (red), ‘barat’ (letter),’ qimash’ (furnishing).

Tinted drawings with gold; circular; on paper.

55 mm diameter; page 480 by 735 mm.

The total of ninety-six circular illustrations are arranged in eight rows of twelve for the eight suits: Crowns, Whites, Swords, Slaves, Harps, Reds, Letters and Furnishings. Each suit has ten cards with the respective objects from one to ten, plus two royalty (‘mir’ and ‘vazir’) making twelve in all.

Note: These designs are for the game of ‘Mughal Ganjifa’ or ‘Chankanchani Ganjifa’ as distinct from other variants such as ‘Das’avatar’ Ganjifa’ and ‘Ramayana Ganjifa’ (‘see’ Add.Or.3857). The eight suits are explained by Rudi von Leyden as originating from the concept of the different components of court; Crowns standing for court regalia, Whites for the silver mint, Swords for the armoury, Slaves for the household, Harps for the zenana, Reds for the gold mint, Letters for the ‘daftari’ or clerical office, and Furnishings for the stores. On the cards themselves, as on these designs, the suits are represented respectively by the symbols of the crown, silver coins, swords, servants, harps, gold coins, firmans or letters, and pillows. For a fuller explanation and discussion of the types of ‘ganjifa, see’ Leyden (1977).