Collection Gejus van Diggele
Playing card maker unknown, France

The story behind secondary use cards is not always complicated or profound.
This month it’s back to basics. Playing cards have also been secondary used for playing games. Lacking a 4 of diamonds but having one 5 of diamonds too many, it was apparently decided to transform the 5 of diamonds into a 4 of diamonds: one of the diamonds on this card was scratched away to replace the missing card. The upper left diamond is also a bit scratched - perhaps by mistake?
A simple example, but still recognizable in 2005. In many families the joker or another card are still used or adapted to replace a missing card.

                                                        Gejus