Produced by the renowned Miro Company, France, this ingenious card game combines the pleasures of playing cards, crossword puzzles, word-building challenges, and educational entertainment.

Dating from approximately 1960–1965, the game reflects the golden age of French family and educational games, when manufacturers sought to combine learning with leisure through attractive and innovative designs.

Condition

🔹 Cards remain in very good vintage condition with light signs of use
🔹 Original instruction booklet in FRENCH present with expected age-related wear
🔹 Deluxe red plastic case remains bright and attractive
🔹 Minor signs of age consistent with careful use and storage
🔹 Overall a very well-preserved and complete example

🪶 Collector's Note

During the 1950s and 1960s, companies such as Miro transformed educational games into stylish household objects. The Lexicon Mots Croisés Luxe is one of the most original examples of this trend, turning vocabulary building and spelling into an engaging card game suitable for both children and adults.

Beyond its gaming appeal, the set is admired today for its striking mid-century design, particularly the iconic red molded plastic case that distinguishes the deluxe edition from standard releases. Complete examples retaining the original booklet, tray, and case have become increasingly difficult to find, making this an appealing acquisition for collectors of vintage games, educational toys, typography, and French design.

A unique and educational French card game created by the Réunion des Musées Nationaux and printed by J.-C. Dusserre in 1980.
Jeu des Trois Dimensions (Game of Three Dimensions) invites players to combine letters, numbers, and artworks from the Louvre Museum to spell the phrase MUSÉE DU LOUVRE.

🔹 Each of the 72 cards (including 3 jokers) features a different masterpiece from the Louvre collection — from Egyptian statues to Renaissance portraits — along with a letter and a number, representing the “three dimensions” of the game: letters, numbers, and images.

🔸 Deck Details
Title: Jeu des Trois Dimensions – Musée du Louvre
Publisher: Réunion des Musées Nationaux / Éditions J.-C. Dusserre
Year: 1980
Number of cards: 72 (including 3 Jokers)
Languages: Multilingual – rules in 6 languages (French, English, German, Spanish, Italian, Japanese)
Theme: Educational art game based on Louvre masterpieces
Card size: approx. 6.3 × 11 cm
Condition: Complete – cards in very good condition, box shows minor wear from time and storage, as pictured.

🪶 Collector’s Note
A fascinating museum-produced edition printed in France by Maîtres Cartiers Boechat Frères for the RMN, combining art history and play. Rarely found complete, this vintage deck embodies the refined charm of French educational design from the early 1980s.
Extremely hard to find – only 1 unit available.

**************************************************************
Free shipping over $250 (€220)
**************************************************************
Also, check our 5 Stars Etsy shop with more than 5000 sales!

Vintage 2019 M&M's Belgian Deck of Playing Cards.
Sise: 88mm x 62mm.

Box is showing few signs of wear due to storage as pictured. Cards are in very good condition.

**************************************************************
Free shipping on orders over $150
**************************************************************

Vintage 2019 M&M's French Deck of Playing Cards / Unopened / Ephemera.
Sise: 88mm x 62mm.

Condition: Cards are still cellophane sealed inside of the box.

**************************************************************
Free shipping on orders over $150
**************************************************************

Playing cards based on the painting "Maharaja Takhat Singh Celebrating Diwali with Ladies", c. 1850.
The set alludes to the light-hearted card playing that accompanies Diwali festivities in India.

Size: 88mm x 62mm.

**************************************************************
Free shipping on orders over $150
**************************************************************

A beautiful and uncommon Italian collector's deck reproducing a series of romantic scenes from daily life and theatre in Milan during the second half of the 19th century.

Published in 1984 by Edizioni del Solleone, this deck reproduces artwork by an anonymous artist dating from around 1870, preserved in the personal collection of Italian collector Vito Arienti.

Each card features elegant Victorian-era scenes, theatrical interiors, aristocratic figures, city views, and glimpses of everyday life in historic Milan.

🔹 Limited numbered edition: 293/999
🔹 Published by Edizioni del Solleone, Italy (1984)
🔹 Complete deck: 52 cards + 4 Jokers
🔹 Includes original explanatory leaflet in Italian
🔹 Original collector's box
🔹 Reproduces artwork from circa 1870
🔹 Based on an original deck from the Vito Arienti collection
🔹 Cards and box in very good condition

A wonderful acquisition for collectors of historical playing cards, Italian ephemera, Victorian art, theatre memorabilia, and unusual limited-edition decks.

🪶 Collector's Note

During the 1980s, Italian publisher Edizioni del Solleone produced a number of highly regarded historical card reproductions drawn from private collections. This edition is particularly desirable because it was issued in a strictly limited run of only 999 numbered copies and preserves a rare visual record of Milanese society and theatrical culture during the late nineteenth century.

The delicate illustrations evoke the atmosphere of Belle Époque salons, opera houses, aristocratic residences, and city life, making this deck as much an art object as a playing-card set.

This rare vintage French-language trump card game features tanks, artillery, and armored vehicles from around the world, including models from the USA, USSR, France, Germany, and Great Britain. Each card displays a technical illustration or photograph along with detailed specifications such as horsepower, weight, speed, and dimensions.

Even though the cover card is missing, the set itself is complete with 32 cards, all in good condition and housed in its original blue plastic box with clear lid.

🔹 Publisher: Likely FX Schmid / Hemma (common distributor for French editions)
🔹 Year: Late 1970s – early 1980s
🔹 Theme: Tanks, self-propelled artillery, armored vehicles
🔹 Language: French
🔹 Cards: 32 (complete set, no missing gameplay cards)
🔹 Format: Approx. 6.5 × 10 cm
🔹 Box: Original plastic case with age-related wear

A must-have collectible for military history enthusiasts, tank fans, and vintage card game collectors.

⚠️ Light vintage smell due to long-term storage. Please check all photos carefully before purchase.

**************************************************************
Free shipping over $250 (220€)
**************************************************************

A charming miniature deck of French playing cards made by Héron, Paris, under the “Capit’Luxe – OPAK” line.
Compact yet finely printed, this delightful pocket-sized deck reproduces the traditional Paris pattern in vivid red, blue, and gold tones.

🔹 Publisher: Héron, France
🔹 Series: Capit’Luxe “OPAK”
🔹 Era: circa 1950s–1960s
🔹 Size: Mini format (approx. 4.5 × 3 cm)
🔹 Contents: 32 cards (standard piquet deck)
🔹 Design: Portrait de Paris pattern
🔹 Box: Original faux-leather red tuck box, marked “OPAK”

Condition:
Cards in good vintage condition as pictured.
Box shows noticeable wear and small splits (see photos).

🪶 Collector’s Note
A true curiosity for collectors of French playing cards and Héron editions. These miniature “OPAK” decks were among the finest post-war pocket games, valued for their high printing quality and textured lizard-pattern box design. Increasingly scarce in complete form.

Learn English royal history the fun way!
This charming and educational card game introduces players to the Monarchs of England, from Alfred the Great to Queen Elizabeth II, through beautifully illustrated portrait cards. Each card features the monarch’s name, reign dates, and a colorful historical costume illustration.

Originally published by Trioview Ltd. and Heritage Toy & Game Co. (1991–1993), this collectible edition captures over a thousand years of British royal history in an engaging family-friendly format.

🔹 Includes:
– 57 Portrait Cards
– 6 Reference Cards
– 3 Rules Cards
– Original illustrated box
– Printed in Belgium

🔹 Details:
– Players: 2 – 4
– Age: 7 +
– Publisher: Trioview Ltd. / Heritage Toy & Game Co.
– Year: 1991 – 1993
– Made in Belgium

🎓 How to Play:
Form sets of monarchs grouped by name, number, or date of reign. Easy to learn, historically rich, and fun for families, classrooms, or collectors.

🔹 Condition: Box shows light wear (as pictured) — cards are in excellent condition.

🪶 Collector’s Note:
A delightful vintage find that blends history, art, and education. Perfect for Anglophiles, history enthusiasts, or collectors of vintage British games.

Relive the thrill of high-speed racing with this Motorsport Top Ace Trumps card game, published by Carta Mundi in 2005.
This vintage set features 32 cards, each showcasing a different motorcycle, with detailed stats such as top speed, acceleration, horsepower, and engine capacity. Perfect for collectors, motorsport fans, or anyone who loves classic card games.

The deck comes in its original plastic case, ensuring safe storage and portability. A fun and nostalgic collectible for both play and display!

🔹 Year: 2005
🔹 Cards: 32 (complete playable set)
🔹 Size: approx. 6 × 9 cm (mini format)
🔹 Publisher: Carta Mundi
🔹 Box: Original plastic case
🔹 Condition: Cards in excellent condition; case shows light wear (see photos)

**************************************************************
Free shipping over $250 (€220)
**************************************************************

A vintage motorcycle racing quartet game from the Super-Quartett / Super Kwartet series by FX Schmid, distributed by Hemma. This set features thrilling images of racing bikes, sidecars, and top brands such as Yamaha, Harley-Davidson, Bultaco, Minarelli, Suzuki, Maico, and more.

🔹 Publisher: FX Schmid / Hemma
🔹 Order No.: 231
🔹 Year: 1979
🔹 Game type: Auto/Moto-Trumpf / Quartet (Top Trumps style)
🔹 Cards: 32 cards (complete set) + 3 extras (championship & series list)
🔹 Format: Mini-size – approx. 6 × 9 cm
🔹 Theme: Grand Prix motorcycles, drag bikes, racing bolides, and world champions
🔹 Languages: French / Dutch bilingual text
🔹 Box: Original green plastic case with transparent lid (shows scratches/age wear)

A highly collectible set for fans of vintage motorcycle racing and classic FX Schmid quartets.

⚠️ Light vintage smell due to long-term storage. Please check all photos carefully before purchase.

**************************************************************
Free shipping over $250 (220€)
**************************************************************

A rare and historically important reproduction of the Mamluk Playing Cards, considered the direct ancestors of modern European playing cards and the tarot.
The original 15th-century cards were discovered at the Topkapi Museum in Istanbul by L. A. Mayer, whose 1939 study became the foundation for this remarkable facsimile edition.

Published in 1972 by Aurelia Books (Brussels and Louvain) and printed by Carta Mundi, this deluxe edition was limited to 750 numbered copies.
This one is No. 178.

The set includes:
– Complete deck of 56 richly ornamented cards (2.25 × 3.3 in / 58 × 86 mm)
– 62-page booklet on the history of Arabic and European playing cards
– Elegant black leatherette presentation box with gold titles

A cornerstone piece for collectors of early playing cards, Islamic art, and tarot history — the bridge between East and West.

🔹 Publisher: Aurelia Books / Carta Mundi (Belgium, 1972)
🔹 Limited Edition of 750 – No. 178
🔹 Condition: Excellent – box with light shelf wear consistent with age

🪶 Collector’s Note

The Mulūk Wanuwwāb deck stands among the most historically significant reproductions ever printed.
Derived from the 15th-century Mamluk cards of Cairo, this set represents the direct ancestors of European playing cards and the earliest foundations of tarot symbolism.

The ornate geometric and floral designs echo the refinement of Islamic manuscript art, while their structure — cups, swords, coins, and polo sticks — later evolved into the suits of European decks.
This 1972 Aurelia Books edition, produced by Carta Mundi in only 750 numbered copies, is prized by collectors as both an object of beauty and a landmark in the history of divination.

A rare fusion of art, history, and mysticism — the moment where the East gave birth to the Tarot.

A beautiful and authentic Spanish playing card deck (baraja española) published under the name Gabriel Fuentes – Nuevo Estilo, likely produced in Spain or Latin America in the late 1990s or early 2000s.
This deck follows the classic Spanish pattern used for traditional games such as Brisca, Tute, Mus and Escoba — with vibrant hand-colored illustrations of Cups, Coins, Swords, and Clubs.

The box and cards proudly display the Fuentes coat of arms and the phrase Naipes Gabriel Fuentes, a nod to the long Spanish tradition of fine playing-card makers.

🔹 Publisher: Naipes Gabriel Fuentes
🔹 Edition: Nuevo Estilo – likely 1990s/2000s
🔹 Deck: 40 cards + 1 Joker (Comodín)
🔹 Card size: approx. 6 × 9 cm
🔹 Back design: Blue geometric lattice with central rosette
🔹 Condition: Excellent – cards complete, bright colors, minimal wear to box
🔹 Language: Spanish

🪶 Collector’s Note:
A charming modern re-interpretation of the classic Baraja Española, this “Nuevo Estilo” edition captures the lively, traditional spirit of Spanish card design. Perfect for players, collectors, or lovers of Iberian card culture.
Becoming harder to find, especially in such crisp condition with its original box.

🔸 Title: Naumburg Playing Cards (C.T. Lutor reproduction)
🔸 Publisher: Franz-Josef Holler
🔸 Origin: Germany
🔸 Year: 1984
🔸 Cards: 32 cards (complete)
🔸 Card size: approx. 95 × 55 mm
🔸 Type: Historical German reproduction deck
🔸 Box: Original box (lid missing)

This deck is a reproduction of early German playing cards attributed to C.T. Lutor of Naumburg, featuring traditional German suits and finely detailed historical illustrations.

The artwork reflects early European cardmaking traditions, with elegant figures, symbolic motifs, and soft antique color tones faithfully recreated in this 1984 German edition.

🔸 Condition:
• Cards in very good condition
• Original box present but top lid is missing
• Light signs of age consistent with storage

🪶 Collector’s Note

This edition by Franz-Josef Holler (1984) is part of a series of historical reproductions preserving rare European card patterns.

The Naumburg design is particularly sought after by collectors of German regional decks, offering a glimpse into early cardmaking traditions rarely seen today.

Despite the missing lid, the deck remains a highly displayable and collectible piece, especially due to its complete card set and charming miniature format.

A rare original Warner Bros. licensed product from 2001, part of the first wave of Harry Potter collectibles released at the beginning of the franchise.
This boxed set includes a full deck of playing cards designed for magic tricks, complete with a multilingual instruction booklet.

The cards feature illustrations inspired by the magical world of Hogwarts, rendered in a whimsical early-2000s style.
A nostalgic collectible for both Harry Potter fans and vintage card collectors.

🔹 Publisher: Warner Bros. / Official WB merchandise
🔹 Year: 2001 (early release)
🔹 Contents: 1 deck of cards + instruction booklet
🔹 Languages: Multilingual (EN, FR, DE, ES, IT, NL, etc.)
🔹 Condition: Brand new & unopened – factory sealed

🪶 Collector’s Note

This 2001 edition captures the early magic of the Harry Potter phenomenon, when licensed items were produced in limited regional quantities.
Now long out of print, sealed examples like this are increasingly rare — a perfect addition to any Wizarding World collection or vintage fantasy memorabilia shelf.

Rare official Diables Rouges / Rode Duivels deck, celebrating the Belgian national football team of the late 1990s. Licensed by URBSFA (Royal Belgian Football Association), this collectible set features player portraits, action shots, and team details.

🔹 52 cards + 3 Jokers
🔹 Includes folded leaflet with full player list (names, clubs, stats)
🔹 Licensed official deck by URBSFA
🔹 Condition: Excellent – your deck is factory sealed/unopened (the open deck shown in pictures is from my personal collection for reference)
🔹 Box shows very light shelf wear

A true collector’s item for football fans and vintage playing card enthusiasts!

**************************************************************
Free shipping over $250 (€220)
**************************************************************

Old collector's game of 53 advertising cards from the 60s, on the wine theme "François Marlier"

The cards measure 5.8cm x 8.7cm.
It consists of 52 cards + 1 joker
They have signs of wear.
The box is damaged

Published in 1994 by the Bibliothèque Nationale de France, this rare memory game Le Florilège de Nassau reproduces the splendid gouache paintings of Strasbourg painter Johann Walter (1604–1677). Commissioned by Count Jean de Nassau between 1652 and 1665, the original Florilegium celebrates the marvelous gardens of the château d’Idstein, with depictions of fruits, flowers, and views of the castle grounds.

This edition includes 52 beautifully illustrated cards plus instructions in both French and English.
A unique collector’s item, combining art history and play, part of the prestigious “Collection La Mémoire du Jeu.”

🔹 Year: 1994
🔹 Publisher: Bibliothèque Nationale de France
🔹 Cards: 52 + instruction cards
🔹 Languages: French & English
🔹 Condition: Very good – complete set

Step into Paris through the eyes of its greatest painters with this beautiful vintage 54-card deck, “Paris et sa région vus par les peintres.”

From Delacroix's La Liberté guidant le peuple to Toulouse-Lautrec, Brayer, Lamy, and more, this deck captures landmarks such as the Bastille, Montmartre, the Moulin Rouge, the Château de Pierrefonds, and historic portraits of French royalty.

Each of the 54 cards features a masterpiece by a celebrated painter, paired with its museum location or historical context — turning every shuffle into a mini-art gallery.

A delightful collectible for lovers of Paris, art history, and illustrated playing cards.

🔹 Title: Paris et sa Région vus par les Peintres – Vintage Art Playing Cards
🔹 Publisher: Unknown (French production)
🔹 Contents: 54 illustrated cards
🔹 Theme: Paintings of Paris & surrounding region
🔹 Card Size: 6.3 × 8.7 cm
🔹 Language: French
🔹 Box Condition: Signs of age & storage wear as pictured
🔹 Card Condition: Very good

🪶 Collector’s Note
This deck is a beautiful time capsule of Parisian heritage. From Delacroix to Toulouse-Lautrec, each card captures a famous scene or monument as interpreted by master painters. Decks from this series rarely appear complete and in such good condition, making this a wonderful addition for collectors of French art-themed cards.

🔹 Brand: Pastis 51
🔹 Manufacturer: Carta Mundi
🔹 Made in: France
🔹 Year: 1990s
🔹 Cards: 52 standard playing cards + scoring card
🔹 Card size: approx. 3.7 × 5.7 cm
🔹 Condition: Cards in very good condition – box shows visible wear as pictured

🪶 Collector’s Note

A charming and rare vintage advertising deck created for the French apéritif Pastis 51 under the slogan “51 dans l’eau”.
Printed by Carta Mundi in the 1990s, this miniature 52-card bridge deck was distributed as a promotional collectible in bars and cafés across France.

The back design features the iconic blue Pastis 51 logo, while the compact format makes it both fun to use and highly collectible.
A nostalgic piece of French advertising history, perfect for lovers of vintage cards, spirits memorabilia, and miniature games.

A rare collector’s bundle of two luxurious vintage double-deck sets of bridge playing cards, both richly designed and presented.

🔹 Set 1 – Persian Garden by Carta Mundi (Belgium)
This luxury double bridge set evokes the beauty of Persian miniature art and Oriental culture. Produced with Carta Mundi’s traditional excellence, the cards feature exquisite illustrations with gold-bronze printing, giving them a rich and refined appearance.

- Publisher: Carta Mundi
-Estimated production: late 1970s – early 1980s
- 2 full decks of bridge cards in original box
- Box shows some light wear from age (see photos)

🔹 Set 2 – Fournier Double Bridge Deck (Spain)
A classic Heraclio Fournier production from Vitoria, Spain. Plastic-coated playing cards, known for their durability and smooth handling, presented in their original white and gold storage box.

- Publisher: Fournier, Vitoria, Spain
- Estimated production: 1980s – 1990s
- 2 full decks of bridge cards in original box
- Excellent condition, box with light marks

✨ Both sets are highly collectible examples of luxury European card manufacturing from the late 20th century. Perfect for players, collectors, or as an elegant gift.

**************************************************************
Free shipping over $250 (220€)
**************************************************************

A truly unique and scarce deck of French playing cards created by the Italian artist and political cartoonist Pino Zac (Giuseppe Zaccaria). This unusual deck combines traditional card design with anamorphic art – distorted illustrations that can only be fully appreciated using the included reflective viewing tube. Some of the images are humorous, surreal, and a little cheeky, making it both a novelty and an artistic collectible.

🔹 Published by France Cartes / Baptiste-Paul Grimaud, Paris, 1983
🔹 Complete deck of 54 cards (poker format: approx. 8.8 × 6.3 cm / 3½" × 2½")
🔹 Includes original metal viewing tube and French booklet
🔹 Cards in very good condition
🔹 Box shows light age-related wear (see photos)
🔹 French edition with instructions in French (a translated English PDF copy of the rules will be provided)

This rare edition is long out of print and highly sought after by collectors of unusual playing cards, art decks, and optical illusions.

✨ A rare treasure that combines art, satire, and play — only 1 unit available!

A beautifully illustrated deck based on Carlo Collodi’s timeless fairy tale Pinocchio, with artwork by Iassen Ghiuselev. Part of Lo Scarabeo's Playing Card Collection, this collectible deck features 54 playing cards, each capturing moments from the beloved 1883 tale. A treasure for both playing card collectors and fairy tale enthusiasts.
Cards are standard poker size (approx. 6 × 9 cm).
Condition: Cards are sealed and in excellent condition. Box shows signs of wear, with visible edge rubbing and small tears.

A striking French divinatory card game from the early 1970s, Playtex – Le Jeu de la Beauté et du Destin blends modern illustration with fortune-telling tradition. Produced in France by B.P. Grimaud in 1971 and illustrated by James Hodges, this elegant set explores themes of love, health, money, happiness, and destiny.
The artwork is expressive and fluid, characteristic of Hodges’ distinctive graphic style, placing this deck firmly within the aesthetic of 1970s French design and popular divination culture.

🔹 36 illustrated divination cards + 1 blank card
🔹 Includes original explanatory leaflet (French language)
🔹 Illustrated by James Hodges
🔹 Publisher: B.P. Grimaud, France
🔹 Year: 1971
🔹 Original Playtex edition
🔹 Complete set, as issued

Condition
Cards and explanatory leaflet are in excellent condition.
The original box shows visible wear consistent with age and storage (see photos).

🪶 Collector’s Note
James Hodges is also known for illustrating the Boulogne-sur-Mer Chamber of Commerce & Industry playing cards, making this Playtex edition a sought-after example of his work beyond traditional playing cards.

Portraits of a Lady by Lo Scarabeo, 2003. The women presented here are portrayed in the glamorous iconography of the time which early photographers captured with their daguerreotypes.

These beauties were originally featured on cigarette cards published by the British American Tobacco Company in 1908.

LO SCARABEO

COLLECTIBLE
54 PLAYING CARDS
DIMENSIONS: 6 x 9 cm

**************************************************************
Free shipping on order over $150
**************************************************************

A charming commemorative French deck celebrating the 14 July 1789 – Prise de la Bastille, illustrated in a vintage Revolutionary style.
Each court card represents an allegorical figure tied to the ideals of the Revolution:

🔹 Kings = Génies (Peace, Arts, War, Commerce)
🔹 Queens = Liberté (Marriage, Cults, Press, Professions)
🔹 Jacks = Égalité (Rights, Duties, Rank, Colours)

The back design features crossed flags and the motto LIBERTÉ – ÉGALITÉ – FRATERNITÉ, with inscriptions marking the historic date.

A unique collector’s deck mixing history, symbolism, and patriotic charm.

🔹 Publisher: France (circa late 1980s – early 1990s)
🔹 Cards: 52 + 2 Jokers
🔹 Theme: French Revolution / Bastille Day
🔹 Condition: Cards are sealed. Box shows minor wear as pictured.

Perfect for collectors of historical playing cards, French memorabilia, or Revolutionary-era themed decks.

This lot includes 4 vintage French Advertising & Promotional decks of playing cards.

Don't hesitate to ask me questions or ask for more photographs!

A rare and beautifully produced limited-edition book, Raconte-moi les cartes is a playful yet scholarly journey through the world of playing cards, created by French historian Christian Rouleau — one of France’s leading experts on card history and divinatory decks.

Printed in only 300 copies in 2021, each book is hand-signed and individually numbered by the author. AntiqueArcana acquired the last remaining units directly from Mr. Rouleau himself — we currently hold 4 signed & numbered copies, all from his personal reserve.

This large-format illustrated “primer” unfolds as an A-to-Z exploration of playing cards: kings, queens, symbols, legends, historical decks, the origins of suits, cardmakers like Grimaud, and the cultural evolution of card games from the Middle Ages to today.
Beautiful full-page plates showcase treasures from Rouleau’s private collection — one of the finest in France.

🔹 Format: Hardcover book
🔹 Size: approx. 25 × 31 cm (Italian landscape format)
🔹 Pages: 64
🔹 Language: French
🔹 Edition: Limited to 300 copies — each copy signed & numbered
🔹 Condition: Brand-new and pristine (direct from the author)
🔹 Authenticity: One of the final copies available on the market

🪶 Collector’s Note

Signed, numbered copies of Raconte-moi les cartes are exceptionally scarce. With only 300 printed — and most already in private libraries — this edition has quickly become a modern reference for historians, museums, and collectors of rare playing-card literature.

A fascinating mix of political commentary, humor, and collectible card art.

🔹 Published: Éditions Arts et Lettres, Nancy
🔹 Year: 1970s (exactly mid-1970s, during Giscard’s presidency)
🔹 Format: Softcover, large in-folio, approx. 56 pre-cut cards + satirical texts
🔹 Condition: Good vintage copy, some signs of wear as shown
🔹 1 UNIT ONLY!

Le Jeu de la Ve République (The Game of the Fifth Republic), illustrated by the brilliant satirical artist Pino Zac with texts by Dominique Durand, is a biting political parody first published by Éditions Arts et Lettres (Nancy, 1970s).

This unusual work was cleverly designed as a book of pre-cut playing cards. Even the cover could be cut out and folded into a box for the deck, allowing readers to literally assemble their own satirical card game. The idea came from the need to bypass potential censorship: while a card deck could easily be seized or banned, censoring a printed book in France was far more difficult.

The deck ridicules the main figures of French politics during the Fifth Republic: De Gaulle, Mitterrand, Chirac, Marchais, Séguy, and of course Valéry Giscard d’Estaing, caricatured as the Ace of Spades—a visual pun, since in French slang the "as de pique" means… “asshole.”

With its sharp caricatures, bold humor, and irreverent spirit, this book is both a collector’s piece of political satire and a testimony to French press freedom during the 1970s. A rare and subversive treasure for lovers of history, politics, and graphic satire.

Renaissance Art Playing Cards – Michelangelo by B.P. Grimaud (1975)

Created in Paris to commemorate the 500ᵗʰ anniversary of Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475-1564), this rare 1975 Grimaud edition captures the divine beauty of the Renaissance through 54 exquisite cards depicting the artist’s frescoes and sculptures — La Création de l’Homme, La Piéta, Les Prophètes of the Sistine Chapel.

Produced under the artistic direction of J.-M. Simon, this deck was printed in limited numbers and is now long out of print.
Cards are in excellent condition with bright, faithful colors; the box shows gentle wear consistent with age.

🔹 Publisher: B.P. Grimaud, Paris
🔹 Year: 1975
🔹 54 cards – complete
🔹 Printed in France
🔹 Box with light wear, cards excellent

🪶 Collector’s Note

A luminous homage to the Renaissance’s greatest sculptor and painter.
Few examples of this edition survive with the box intact. Each card carries the quiet majesty of Michelangelo’s vision — a perfect union of art, devotion, and French craftsmanship.