I'm not so sure, what the copyright state is in such a case.
It's for research, so who cares ...
These items are human history and they're the possession of mankind. Sure, some museums try to copyright their objects to earn a little money ... but actually with this approach they are the thieves of objects, which are in the possession of mankind. Well, somehow they're the owner, but are they .. as owners ... actually allowed to destroy such things? No ... they just have or own them for the moment.
These are things which form - as other things - the collective memory of mankind. They serve as objects of study to get the memory of lost contexts back ... and actually this process is of higher worth as the physical objects itself. Nobody owns this collective memory.
These objects are already only reproductions ... those, who made the reproduction, already earned their money ... likely the edition is sold out long ago.
... who cares in such a case for a copyright. Actually the museum should be happy, that their objects get a little reflection in the public ... perhaps one or the other reader really visits the museum once just cause this few cards. Our talking about them just adds to the fame. I for instance wouldn't know the Topkapi Museum, if it wouldn't house these cards ... which are surely only a minor object in their big collection.
... the publisher is happy to be noted, in the case, that he still is active. Perhaps somebody, who hears from the deck, buys another of their reproductions.
Everybody is happy or at least has reason to be ... and we shall fear the copyright law? This is absurd. Somehow one states with such a fear: "Please excuse, that I exist ... "
