Curse of Scotland Gurney Benham's book about playing cards, in describing the game of Pope Joan he gives his own explanation for why this card is known as the Curse of Scotland: "The crown of Scotland contained only nine stones, as they never could afford a tenth". Eric Partridge's "Routledge Dictionary of Historical Slang" considers: “the various theories are as interesting as they are unconvincing”. "Collins Encyclopedia of Scotland" says for "Curse of Scotland" "This is usually taken to be the nine of diamonds playing card, though explanations differ". The 19th century Tarot of Marseilles is one of the standard designs for tarot
Ober (playing card) Ober (playing card) The Ober, in Austrian also called the Manderl, is a court card in the German and Swiss styles of playing cards, which corresponds in the hierarchy to the Queen in French decks. The figure depicted on an Ober is usually a nobleman or officer. It is distinguished from the lowest court card Unter by the figure's suit sign located in the upper range of the card. In the Württemberg pattern the Ober appears on horseback, as they inspired by Cego decks whose face cards included a Knight or Cavalier as well as the Jack, Queen and King.