A rare small deck of French playing cards bearing the official tax stamp “République Française – Décret du 12 Avril 1890”, marking it as an authentic 19th-century production.
These pocket-sized cards were created during the Belle Époque, when card games were a fashionable pastime in Parisian cafés and salons.

Each card displays the classic French design with the symbolic trefoil (clover) emblem, and the court cards depict the traditional figures Argine, Judith, and David in vibrant early-industrial color lithography.
The reverse features a refined red, blue, and white mosaic pattern, typical of late 19th-century French printing.

Comes with a blue snap-case in textured plastic — a delightful relic of the 1940s–1950s era of compact leisure accessories.

Details

🔹 Origin: France
🔹 Mark: République Française – Décret du 12 Avril 1890
🔹 Era: circa 1890
🔹 Contents: Complete 32-card deck
🔹 Card size: approx. 9 × 6 cm
🔹 Box: Blue snap-case (1940s–1950s period)
🔹 Condition: Excellent antique condition – light aging consistent with age, cards crisp and clean

🪶 Collector’s Note

A genuine artifact from fin-de-siècle France, this miniature deck embodies the craftsmanship and elegance of an era when even the smallest objects were works of art.
Bearing the historical 1890 tax seal, it represents the transition between artisanal and industrial card-making, offering a rare glimpse into the golden age of French leisure culture.
An exquisite addition for collectors of antique playing cards, Belle Époque design, or French historical ephemera.

Rare and charming antique Tarot deck attributed to J. Muller & Cie, Switzerland, dated approximately 1880–1910. This exceptional tarot-style deck includes 78 cards, each richly illustrated with narrative vignettes and classic French-suited court cards (hearts, spades, diamonds, clubs). The cards show beautiful age patina, printed in the tradition of chromolithography, with iconic storytelling scenes often seen in late 19th-century cartomancy.

The set is housed in a handmade wooden treasure box, crafted with meticulous detail:
Velvet-lined interior in red
Butterfly-shaped vintage lock with chain and brass padlock + key
Secret compartment
Comes with a polished protective stone (black tiger’s eye)

This is a unique collector's piece for any lover of vintage cartomancy, fortune-telling tools, or tarot history. A true artifact of European esoteric tradition, enhanced with a beautifully designed modern display box that protects and elevates its mystical charm.

🔸 Contents:
78 antique cards (some wear and signs of age, as pictured)
Handmade custom wood box with lock, chain, key, and velvet inlay
Black stone included
Dimensions: standard card size ~6x9 cm (approx.)

⚠️ Note: Some cards show edge damage, consistent with age and use(see cards on the picture).
The deck remains complete and highly evocative.