I have an array of Bicycle and other American royal cards in front of me and I have many questions. If someone has already written all this up, I'd appreciate the referral. If not, here's some questions. I'll just ask about the jacks in this post but I have questions about the queens and kings too.
Clubs - The jack of clubs (should this be capitalized?) is holding a long vertical rod-like thing with a sort of arrow head on one side (the top?) and a point on the other side. It might be a stylized spear although the point on the back of it doesn't quite make sense. Anyone know anything about it?
There is also a leaf hanging from the hat or crown of the JoC. Again, anyone know anything?
Hearts. He has a moustache (JoC is cleanshaven) and is holding something in his hand, maybe a leaf? There is the axe behind him.
The Jack of Spaces is holding a type of stick has a sort of spiral to it. It has three sections in the spiral (ie it turns around one and a half times). What is it and what is it called?
Diamonds. The JoD is holding a rod which looks very similar to the JoC rod but with the point at both ends (not the arrowhead). It has a curved thing coming off it which could either be the hand protector if it's a sword or, in some versions, suggests a crossbow. Anyone know anything about it? BTW, JOD also has a moustache.