I've been after one of these for a long time. The suits each represent a continent: Diamonds in the Americas; Hearts is Europe; Spades is Asia; Clubs is Africa. The aces have pictures on them, too, but of scenery rather than of vaguely national costume. This association of suits to continents is different to the one I bought in 2020, which had Diamonds as Africa, Hearts as Europe, Spades as the Americas and Clubs as Asia.
As for how old this pack is, well deck #27 was made 1868-1933, but indices were put in the corners from 1900 onwards. As for when between 1868 and 1899 my particular pack dates, well it's hard to tell because there isn't a tax stamp anywhere to be seen. However, earlier versions had sharp corners whereas mine has rounded ones, so it's going to be closer to 1899 than to 1868. Two of the picture cards, the Queen of Spades and Jack of Clubs, come in two variations. Unfortunately, I don't know when the switch was made from one to the other.
At a guess, then, I'd say maybe the 1890s is about the right range.
Normally, the Dondorf name can be found on the Jack of Clubs. This is the case here, too, but it's also on all the other face cards. That isn't Dondorf's regular practice, so it adds another layer of interest to what is already quite an unusual and attractive deck.
Goodness knows what my wife is going to do with all these playing cards if I die before her.