Rachel, Queen of Diamonds

From the 19th century to 1945, the appearance of French playing cards for domestic consumption was regulated by the government. That meant that every suited deck sold in France carried the same appearance: The β€œParis Pattern.” The French had a unique habit of associating face cards with historic or mythical personages, considered the 𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘡𝘳𝘒π˜ͺ𝘡 𝘰𝘧𝘧π˜ͺ𝘀π˜ͺ𝘦𝘭. As such, each queen was assigned an identity: Judith β™₯️, Rachel ♦️, Pallas ♠️, and Argine ♣️.

Rachel, queen of DiamondsΒ 
There is some speculation as to the Rachel’s identity. The prevailing theory is the Biblical figure Rachel, wife of Jacob and mother of Joseph. Another theory suggests that Rachel is actually Ragnel, the wife of Sir Gawain of the Round Table, and that her identity was lost or changed over generations. Either way, intriguing.
↑Back to Top