🔸 Title: Baraja Española Neoclásica – Reproducción Histórica de 1810
🔸 Original engraver / model: Clemente Roxas
🔸 Original year: 1810
🔸 Place of origin (model): Madrid, Spain
🔸 Type: Historical reproduction Spanish playing cards
🔸 Publisher / Manufacturer: Heraclio Fournier
🔸 Place of manufacture: Vitoria, Spain
🔸 Cards: Traditional Spanish deck (historic format)
🔸 Theme: Spanish Neoclassicism – allegorical and courtly imagery
🔸 Artwork: Faithful reproduction of early 19th-century neoclassical engravings
🔸 Iconography: Classical urns, allegories, cherubs, banners, court figures
🔸 Language: Spanish
🔸 Box: Original illustrated cardboard box with period-inspired design
🔸 Made in: Spain

🔸 Condition:
Cards are in very good vintage condition, clean, sharp, and well preserved, with strong colors and no major defects.
The original box shows visible signs of age and storage, including edge wear, light staining, and surface wear (clearly visible in photos).

🪶 Collector’s Note
This Baraja Española Neoclásica (1810) is a refined historical reproduction drawn from an original Madrid engraving by Clemente Roxas, capturing the elegance and symbolism of Spanish neoclassical design at the dawn of the 19th century. Produced by Heraclio Fournier in Vitoria, this edition reflects the publisher’s long-standing commitment to preserving Iberian card heritage with scholarly accuracy.

The restrained palette, balanced compositions, and classical motifs place this deck at the crossroads between Enlightenment order and Romantic sensibility. Highly appreciated by collectors of Spanish playing cards, neoclassical art, and historical reproductions, it stands as a dignified and culturally significant piece for any serious collection.

A charming and nostalgic vintage playing card deck illustrated in the unmistakable style of Betsey Clark, published by Hallmark Cards Inc.
This delightful deck captures the soft, innocent, and storybook-like aesthetic that made Betsey Clark illustrations beloved worldwide.

The card backs feature tender pastoral scenes with childlike characters beneath flowering trees, rendered in gentle pastel tones. The faces follow a classic French-style layout, creating a beautiful contrast between traditional playing card structure and whimsical illustration.

Produced for Hallmark and manufactured in Spain, this deck remains a sought-after collectible for lovers of vintage illustration, childhood ephemera, and decorative playing cards.

Artist: Betsey Clark
Cards: 54 playing cards
Style: Standard playing card deck

This elegant double-deck set issued by the Musée de l’Armée in Paris is a refined homage to French military history of the Ancien Régime. The cards reproduce historical uniform plates of the Régiment d’Infanterie de Lorraine, following the regulation of 1757, a pivotal period in the standardisation of French military dress.

🔸 Title: French Playing Cards – 2 Jeux de 54 Cartes – Régiment d’Infanterie de Lorraine
🔸 Institution: Musée de l’Armée – Paris
🔸 Historical reference: Ancien Régime – Règlement de 1757
🔸 Type: Historical reproduction playing cards
🔸 Contents:
– 2 complete decks of 54 cards (108 cards total)
🔸 Theme: French military history – infantry regiments
🔸 Artwork: Based on period military illustrations and uniform plates
🔸 Card backs: Burgundy red with “Comédie-Française” marking (as issued)
🔸 Box: Original rigid museum presentation box with inner divider
🔸 Language: French
🔸 Made in: France
🔸 Publisher / Distributor: Réunion des Musées Nationaux / Musée de l’Armée
🔸 Safety marking: CE – HERON S.A. (as printed on box)

🔸 Condition:
Cards are in very good condition, clean, sharp, and well preserved, with no visible damage.
The original box shows noticeable wear consistent with age and storage, including edge wear, scuffs, and handling marks (clearly visible in photos).
A complete and solid museum-issued set.

🪶 Collector’s Note

Produced as a cultural and educational object rather than a commercial novelty, this set belongs to the tradition of museum-issued playing cards—objects designed to bridge history, art, and daily use. The inclusion of two full 54-card decks in a single presentation box makes this a particularly appealing item for collectors of military ephemera, historical playing cards, and French institutional editions.

Tas de beaux jeux tu sais is a vintage French standard 54-card deck, published by Studio Aventures and credited to Agatha Grizbi, as part of the Cordon Noir series.

The deck itself follows a classic French playing card structure:
52 standard cards + Jokers
Traditional suits and faces
No special rules or illustrations on the faces

What makes this deck collectible and distinctive is its unique graphic identity:
A custom card back design
A striking black-and-yellow Cordon Noir box, with minimalist typography and literary flair

This type of release was typical of late 20th-century French editorial experimentation, where standard objects were recontextualized through design, language, and presentation.

🔹 Condition
Original box present, showing visible wear and aging
Cards complete and usable
Normal wear consistent with age, no replacements

The set includes 30 beautifully illustrated cards, each featuring a real photograph of a dog breed on the front and an informative description on the back. The texts explain the origin, physical characteristics, and temperament of each breed in clear and accessible French.

“J’apprends à reconnaître… Les Chiens” is a charming French educational card set designed to help children (and curious adults) recognize and learn about different dog breeds.

Originally created as an educational tool, this vintage set also appeals to dog lovers, collectors of animal-themed ephemera, and fans of French educational games. The simple cardboard box and minimalist design reflect early 2000s educational publishing.

📌 Language: French
📌 Content: 30 cat breed dogs
📌 Format: Small card deck in original box
Box dimensions: 10 x 8 x 2 cm

The set includes 24 beautifully illustrated cards, each featuring a real photograph of a cat breed on the front and an informative description on the back. The texts explain the origin, physical characteristics, and temperament of each breed in clear and accessible French.

“J’apprends à reconnaître… Les Chats” is a charming French educational card set designed to help children (and curious adults) recognize and learn about different cat breeds.

Originally created as an educational tool, this vintage set also appeals to cat lovers, collectors of animal-themed ephemera, and fans of French educational games. The simple cardboard box and minimalist design reflect early 2000s educational publishing.

📌 Language: French
📌 Content: 24 cat breed cards
📌 Format: Small card deck in original box
Box dimensions: 10 x 8 x 2 cm

Issued in 1989 to commemorate the Bicentennial of the French Revolution (1789–1989), this special playing card deck was produced in France by Héron as a single commemorative edition.

While retaining the structure of a traditional French-suited deck, the court cards are entirely reimagined with double-ended, full-color portraits of key figures of the French Revolution, including Louis XVI, Marie-Antoinette, Robespierre, Danton, Madame Roland, and Barbaroux.
The Ace of Clubs prominently features the emblem “La Loi” (The Law), reinforcing the historical and symbolic intent of the deck.

Both historically evocative and visually striking, this deck stands at the crossroads of playing cards, political memory, and graphic heritage, making it a compelling collectible for historians and card enthusiasts alike.

Deck Details

🔹 Title: 1789–1989 Bicentennial of the French Revolution
🔹 Publisher / Printer: Héron, France
🔹 Year: 1989
🔹 Cards: 54 cards (52 + 2 Jokers) + 1 French contract bridge card
🔹 Card Size: approx. 2¼ × 3⅜ inches (57 × 86 mm)
🔹 Indices: Traditional French indices
🔹 Language: French
🔹 Condition:
Cards are used but still good; outer box shows shelf wear as pictured!

🪶 Collector’s Note

This is a true period commemorative deck, not a modern reprint. Produced exclusively for the Bicentennial celebrations, it captures how late-20th-century France chose to visually reinterpret its revolutionary past.
Decks featuring named historical figures in a standard playing card format are uncommon, making this a particularly desirable piece for collectors of political ephemera, French history, and commemorative playing cards.

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.

A rare limited-edition transformation deck published by Edizioni del Solleone in 1984, faithfully reproducing the charming 1887 Nuremberg deck known as Gatto Nero / Schwarze Katze / The Black Cat.
Printed in only 800 hand-numbered copies, this edition was curated by Vito Arienti and remains one of the most collectible Solleone releases.

The deck contains 40 + 1 transformation cards, where each card integrates its suit pips into whimsical scenes inspired by 19th-century German illustrations, Nuremberg gingerbread imagery, and the mischievous symbolism of the black cat.

This copy is No. 84 / 800.

🔹 Title: Schwarze Katze / Gioco del Gatto Nero / The Black Cat
🔹 Publisher: Edizioni del Solleone, Lissone (Italy), 1984
🔹 Original deck: Anonymous, Nuremberg 1887
🔹 Contents: 40 + 1 transformation cards (including Joker)
🔹 Languages: Italian, German, English
🔹 Card size: approx. 6.5 × 11 cm
🔹 Condition: Very good overall; cards clean and crisp, box well preserved

🪶 Collector’s Note

Solleone’s limited-edition reprints from the 1980s are now highly sought after, especially those curated by Vito Arienti.
The Gatto Nero deck stands out for its playful 19th-century transformation style, its tiny print run of only 800 copies, and its historical charm rooted in Nuremberg’s gingerbread traditions.
Copies in such good condition — and with a number as low as 84 — rarely appear on the market.

Step back into the storm and color of 1789 with this rare Jeu de la Révolution published by France Cartes (Grimaud) in 1988, created by artist Silvia Maddonni with the collaboration of Gilles Moinot.

The deck presents vivid, humorous, yet historically informed portraits of key figures of the Revolution — Louis XVI, Olympe de Gouges, Danton, Robespierre, Charlotte Corday, and many more.
Each court card includes a famous quotation associated with the character, while the Aces and Jokers depict iconic revolutionary archetypes such as sans-culottes, tricoteuses, and muscadins.

The artwork captures the movement, drama, and spirit of revolutionary France through Maddonni’s lively style, blending historical detail with playful illustration.

🔹 Publisher: France Cartes / Grimaud
🔹 Year: 1988 — Out of Print
🔹 Artist: Silvia Maddonni
🔹 Contents: Complete 52-card deck + 2 Jokers + introductory card + bilingual leaflet (FR/EN)
🔹 Card size: approx. 6.3 × 8.7 cm
🔹 Leaflet: Full descriptions of characters in French & English
🔹 Condition:
• Cards: Very Good (clean, bright, minimal wear)
• Box: Worn from storage, as shown in photos

🪶 Collector’s Note

This 1988 France Cartes edition has become increasingly hard to find, especially complete with its original bilingual leaflet.
Released for the 200th anniversary of the French Revolution, it was printed only once and never reissued.
Silvia Maddonni’s artwork has since gained a small cult following for its expressive, theatrical portrayal of Revolution-era characters.

Vintage Angel Deck – Osaka – Plastic Case – Rare Edition

Elegant and colorful Angel Crown Playing Cards manufactured in Osaka, Japan.
This vintage edition features classic face cards with vivid artwork and crisp white borders, housed in its original red tuck box and clear plastic case.

Produced by Angel Playing Card Co., renowned for their precision printing and smooth, durable card stock used in casinos and professional games.

🔹 Complete deck (52 + 2 Jokers)
🔹 Publisher: Angel Playing Card Co., Osaka, Japan
🔹 Era: Late 1980s–1990s
🔹 Condition: Excellent, near mint (box shows very light wear)
🔹 Packaging: Original red tuck box + plastic case

A beautifully preserved Japanese-made deck — ideal for collectors, poker players, or lovers of fine card design.

🪶 Collector’s Note

Angel cards are known for their exceptional smooth finish and bright, modern design that balances playability and aesthetics.
The Crown Edition stands out for its regal back pattern and cheerful court illustrations — a classic representation of Japan’s golden era of card manufacture.

🔹 Publisher: Grimaud (France)
🔹 Year: 1979
🔹 Contents: 55 cards (complete)
🔹 Missing: Instruction card
🔹 Box size: approx. 9.5 × 5 × 2 cm
🔹 Condition: Cards in excellent, unused condition — appear unplayed and still in original order. Box shows minor shelf wear as pictured.
🔹 Language: French

🪶 Collector’s Note:
A VERY RARE collectible for Disney fans, vintage French card game enthusiasts, or anyone who appreciates retro 1970s Grimaud editions.
A charming and rare children’s version of the classic French Tarot game, featuring beloved Disney characters!

Produced by Grimaud in France in the late 1970s, this Tarot Junior deck was part of an educational initiative to introduce children to the French trick-taking card game “Jeu de Tarot.”
The traditional 78 cards were simplified to 55, and the deck features Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, Pluto, and other classic Disney figures — bringing a playful charm to an otherwise strategic adult game.

🔹 Title: Piatnik Wien – Vintage Cavalry Horsemen Playing Cards (Double Deck)
🔹 Manufacturer: Ferd. Piatnik & Söhne, Vienna, Austria
🔹 Era: Circa 1950s–1960s
🔹 Country: Austria
🔹 Contents: Double deck (2 × 52 cards + Jokers)
🔹 Theme: Classical Austrian equestrian / cavalry illustrations
🔹 Presentation: Original maroon textured box with ribbon lifts and inner branding lid
🔹 Condition: Excellent vintage condition – cards clean and crisp, box shows mild wear consistent with age (see photos).

🐎 Piatnik Vienna – Equestrian Cavalry Playing Cards

🪶 Collector’s Note:
A charming vintage double deck produced by Ferd. Piatnik & Söhne, one of Europe’s most prestigious playing card manufacturers since 1824.
This elegant boxed set features two illustrated decks portraying Austrian cavalrymen on white horses, rendered in classical 19th-century style.

Printed in Austria, this set exemplifies Piatnik’s traditional craftsmanship: thick linen-finish cards, detailed artwork, and high-quality production housed in a textured presentation box lined with the iconic Piatnik guarantee emblem.

Ideal for collectors of vintage European playing cards, Austrian memorabilia, or military and equestrian art.

🔹 Publisher: Disney / Le Journal de Mickey
🔹 Year: circa 2003
🔹 Country: France
🔹 Cards: 54 standard playing cards (poker size)
🔹 Theme: The Haunted Mansion / Horror / Fantasy
🔹 Condition: Cards in excellent condition, box shows minor wear (see photos)
🔹 Language: French

🎃 Le Manoir Hanté et les 999 Fantômes – Jeu de 54 cartes effrayantes

(a.k.a. Haunted Mansion Playing Cards / The Haunted Mansion Deck / Jeu Épouvantable du Journal de Mickey)

This spooky and collectible 54-card deck was released as a Disney tie-in for “Le Manoir Hanté et les 999 Fantômes” (The Haunted Mansion), the 2003 movie starring Eddie Murphy. Distributed in France through Le Journal de Mickey, this deck is part of the film’s official promotional line.

Each card features eerie stills and characters from the movie framed in a gothic mirror-style border, with haunted portraits, specters, and surreal visual effects. The box reads “Je vois à travers les cartes !” (“I see through the cards!”), perfectly matching the ghostly theme.

🪶 Collector’s Note:
A rare and nostalgic Disney collectible from the early 2000s, Le Manoir Hanté et les 999 Fantômes deck captures the gothic humor and eerie charm of the Haunted Mansion universe. Particularly sought-after by Disneyana collectors and fans of horror-themed playing cards.

🔹 Publisher: France Cartes / Grimaud
🔹 Year: 1993
🔹 Type: Spanish-suited deck (Cartas Españolas)
🔹 Composition: Complete deck of 50 cards
🔹 Back design: Blue floral pattern with dotted border
🔹 Material: Smooth laminated cardstock
🔹 Size: Approx. 6.3 × 10 cm
🔹 Condition: Cards in excellent condition, crisp and clean; box shows light wear from storage (see photos).

🪶 Collector’s Note

This 1993 Grimaud edition of the 50 Cartas Españolas continues the classic Spanish-suited tradition, yet with the refined French precision characteristic of the Maison Grimaud — a master cardmaker in Paris since 1848.

The deck retains all the emblematic Spanish suits — Cups (Copas), Coins (Oros), Clubs (Bastos), and Swords (Espadas) — rendered in bold, elegant lines and bright primary colors.
Unlike the older Ducale Catalanes “Dos Écossais Axé” (which embodies a regional French heritage with its tartan back and heavy plastic coating), this Grimaud version reflects a cleaner, more modern aesthetic, optimized for smooth handling and play.

Both decks represent two sides of the same Iberian lineage:

• The Ducale Catalanes connects to the Pyrenean roots and rustic local game culture.

• The Grimaud Cartas Españolas, on the other hand, showcases a Parisian revival of classical Spanish patterns, printed with precision and clarity by France Cartes.

Together, they tell the fascinating story of French craftsmanship preserving Iberian tradition — from the south of France to the ateliers of Paris.

🔹 Publisher: Ducale – France
🔹 Edition: likely 1970s–1980s
🔹 Type: Traditional Catalan / Spanish-suited playing cards
🔹 Composition: Complete deck of 48 cards
🔹 Design: Dos Écossais “Axé” – plaid-pattern back
🔹 Material: Plastic-coated (plastifiées) and washable (lavables)
🔹 Size: Approx. 6.3 × 10 cm
🔹 Condition: Cards in very good condition – clean and glossy; box shows light wear consistent with age (see photos).

🪶 Collector’s Note

These Cartes Catalanes by Ducale are a fine example of the traditional Spanish-suited playing cards used in the French Catalan region, particularly in Perpignan and the Pyrénées-Orientales.

Although often associated with Spain, this style of cards has deep French origins — Spanish suits (Cups, Coins, Clubs, and Swords) were probably first designed in France in the 15th century before being exported south, where they became the standard for Iberian and South American decks.

The Ducale Catalan decks are known for their high-quality finish, clear traditional artwork, and distinctive tartan back (“dos écossais”), making them both a playable set and a charming collectible piece of French card-making heritage.

🔹 Publisher: Éditions J.C. Dusserre / Maîtres-Cartiers Boechat Frères
🔹 Origin: France
🔹 Year: 1970s
🔹 Cards: 52 playing cards + historical info card
🔹 Dimensions: Approx. 6.2 × 9.3 cm
🔹 Condition: Cards in excellent condition – box shows light signs of wear as pictured

🪶 Collector’s Note

This rare reproduction deck is a faithful recreation of a 15th-century French playing card set originally made in 1493 by master cardmaker Jehan Personne in Lyon, France.
The historic sheet used as reference is preserved in the Public Library of Dijon, allowing Dusserre and the master printers Boechat Frères to revive this precious fragment of French heritage.

Each card depicts medieval courtly figures — kings, queens, and valets such as La Belle Hélène, Mélusine, Vénus, and Jeanne d’Arc la Pucelle — drawn in a striking Gothic style and colored with delicate tints typical of late-medieval engraving.

A remarkable collector’s item for lovers of historical playing cards, French iconography, and Renaissance printing art.

🔹 Brand: Heraclio Fournier
🔹 Origin: Vitoria, Spain
🔹 Edition Year: 1980s
🔹 Number of Cards: 50
🔹 Card Size: 6.5 × 9.5 cm
🔹 Condition: Factory sealed in original cellophane wrapping – box shows light age marks (see photos)
🔹 Manufacturer: Naipes Heraclio Fournier S.A.
🎁 Unopened Packaging: The deck remains sealed, ensuring the cards have never been played and preserving their original state.

🪶 Collector’s Note

An authentic vintage 1980s Baraja Española deck produced by Heraclio Fournier, the legendary Spanish cardmaker established in Vitoria in 1868.

This 50-card Spanish-suited deck features the classic Fournier illustrations — bright, finely detailed designs that have become a symbol of Spanish cardmaking excellence.

Still sealed in its original factory wrap, this deck represents a beautiful snapshot of Fournier’s craftsmanship during the late 20th century, when their decks were distributed across Europe and South America.

A timeless collectible piece of Spanish gaming heritage, ideal for display or for lovers of historical playing cards.

This is a faithful reproduction of the first deck of Spanish playing cards created by Heraclio Fournier in Vitoria, Spain, 1868. The original edition won a prize at the prestigious Paris Exposition of 1868, establishing Fournier’s reputation as one of the greatest European playing card makers.

This reproduction was produced by Naipes Fournier in Vitoria during the 1980s–1990s, as part of their historical commemorative series “Siglo XIX”.

🔹 Publisher: Naipes Fournier (Vitoria, Spain)
🔹 Edition: Baraja Española Siglo XIX (19th Century Spanish Deck)
🔹 Date of Production: ca. 1980s–1990s
🔹 Content: 40 cards(Like New!) + explanatory leaflet (multilingual: English, Spanish, French, German)
🔹 Condition: Very good, unsealed, complete with cards and leaflet
🔹 Design: Historic reproduction featuring the original suits of coins, cups, swords, and clubs, with the same details that appeared in the 1868 deck — including inscriptions on the Ace of Coins and the reference to the Paris prize on the Four of Cups.

A perfect piece for collectors of Spanish playing cards, Fournier history, or 19th-century card reproductions, and a beautiful deck to display or use for traditional Spanish games.

This rare Galician Spanish deck of 40 cards was published by Fournier in 1983. Designed by F. Perez Llamosas, it features unique suits inspired by Galician culture:

The fours of each suit display the coats of arms of Galicia’s four provinces (La Coruña, Lugo, Orense, Pontevedra), while the card backs are decorated with their heraldic emblems.

An explanatory leaflet is included, written by X. M. González Reboredo, renowned author of Lendas Galegas de Tradición Oral.
Baraxa Galega designed by F. Perez Llamosas and published by Naipes Heraclio Fournier, 1983

🔹 Published by Fournier, Vitoria – Spain
🔹 40 cards – Baraja Española format
🔹 Dimensions: approx. 6.1 × 9.5 cm
🔹 Year: 1983
🔹 With leaflet in Spanish
🔹 Condition:
Cards are Like new; outer box shows shelf wear as pictured!

A collectible deck for lovers of Spanish history, folklore, and regional playing cards. Perfect for collectors, cultural enthusiasts, or anyone interested in the heritage of Galicia.

Vintage Bicycle Rider Back Miniature Playing Cards – Set of 3 Decks (404 Series, 1990s)

A rare collector’s set of three sealed miniature Bicycle Rider Back decks produced by The U.S. Playing Card Company (Cincinnati, Ohio) in the early 1990s.

🔹 Set includes 3 different colors: Red, Blue, and the Rare Green
🔹 Miniature 404 size: approx. 6.5 x 4.5 cm
🔹 Classic Rider Back design
🔹 All 3 decks are sealed – boxes show light storage wear consistent with age

A perfect addition for Bicycle card collectors, vintage playing card enthusiasts, and magicians who love rare editions.

1 UNIT – Rare Collector’s Item

An exclusive Chanel playing card set created in 2016 for the launch of the “Les Talismans” high jewelry collection. This elegant deck was never sold in stores and was offered only as a prestige gift to select clients and guests, making it extremely rare and sought-after.

🔹 Complete deck of 54 cards
🔹 Large-format luxury size: 7 × 11 cm
🔹 Refined design in black and gold, with celestial and talismanic motifs inspired by the collection
🔹 Comes in the original Chanel box
🔹 Condition:
Box shows slight shelf wear (as pictured), cards are in very good condition

A true collector’s piece for lovers of Chanel, luxury fashion memorabilia, and rare designer editions. Elegant, chic, and iconic – a standout item for any Chanel collection.

🔹 Publisher: B.P. Grimaud / Tunzini Entreprise (France)
🔹 Edition: 1980s advertising reissue
🔹 Origin: Based on the Revolutionary deck printed in An II de la République française (1793–1794)
🔹 Composition: 54 cards (complete deck)
🔹 Dimensions: 14 × 10 × 2.5 cm
🔹 Condition:
- Cards: Excellent condition – clean and crisp.
- Box: Shows light wear and age marks (see photos).

🪶 Collector’s Note

The Jeu de l’An II (“Game of Year 2”) is a faithful reproduction of a Revolutionary-era playing card deck created during the early French Republic.
The original, dated 19 Pluviôse An II (February 7, 1794), is preserved at the Musée Carnavalet in Paris.
This patriotic deck replaced royal figures (King, Queen, Jack) with Republican virtues such as Égalité (Equality), Liberté des Cultes (Freedom of Worship), and Liberté de la Presse (Freedom of the Press).

Reissued by B.P. Grimaud in the 1980s, this version was commissioned as a corporate gift by Tunzini Entreprise, with a historical explanatory card included.
It’s both a rare collectible and a fascinating testimony to Revolutionary symbolism in daily life.

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

A beautiful Art Nouveau style deck published by Grimaud (France) around 1979, designed by Marie Christine Schira.
The court cards depict famous figures and artists of the late 19th / early 20th century, such as Sarah Bernhardt, Émile Gallé, Hector Guimard, Louis Comfort Tiffany, Antoni Gaudí, and others, celebrating the elegance and creativity of the 1900 Belle Époque era.

🔹 Publisher: Grimaud (France)
🔹 Year: c.1979
🔹 Artist: Marie Christine Schira
🔹 Theme: Art Nouveau – Famous artists & personalities (Bernhardt, Tiffany, Guimard, Gaudí…)
🔹 Cards: 52 + 2 Jokers + title card (complete, 54 total)
🔹 Size: approx. 63 × 89 mm (wide format)
🔹 Condition: Cards excellent (like new); box very good to excellent

A highly collectible vintage deck, OUT OF PRINT, combining Art Nouveau design with playing card tradition. Perfect for collectors of Grimaud, Art Nouveau, or Belle Époque style decks.

The best-known “fantasies” with playing cards are the famous Transformation Cards. These ingenious creations integrate the standard suit symbols into imaginative illustrations, a pastime that became popular about 200 years ago and a true test of artistic skill.

This lot includes:

🔹 Deck 1: Jeu de Cotta – Cartes de Fantaisie (1984, France-Cartes / Grimaud)
Reproduction of the earliest transformation deck first published in 1804.
52 cards + 2 Jokers, standard size, mint condition.
Box in excellent condition, almost like new.

🔹 Deck 2: Jeu Gerente (c.1983, Grimaud / Moncar)
Based on woodcut images designed by Alfred Gerente in the 19th century for stained glass windows.
Back design: Amiens Cathedral labyrinth.
52 cards + 2 Jokers + 1 explanatory card.
Size: 88 × 62 mm, printed on unfinished stock with square corners.
Mint condition, original box excellent.

🔹 Book: Transformation Playing Cards by Albert Field (U.S. Games Systems, 1987)
208 pages, paperback, in English.
An essential reference on the history and artistry of transformation decks.

A rare opportunity to obtain two historical reproduction decks together with the definitive reference book—perfect for collectors of playing cards, historians, and lovers of transformation art.

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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.

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.

This magnificent double deck of playing cards was published in the United Kingdom by Waddingtons, one of the most renowned card manufacturers of the 20th century. Founded in the 19th century, Waddingtons was a major producer of playing cards and games in the UK from 1922 to 1995.

This set includes two complete decks, each featuring elegant Wedgwood-inspired designs on the card backs, with refined neoclassical motifs in contrasting blue and green tones. The cards handle beautifully and shuffle smoothly, making this set suitable both for play and for display.

🔸 Includes two full decks of cards
🔸 Smooth, high-quality card stock – cards slide easily when mixed
🔸 Classic British playing card format
🔸 Elegant Wedgwood-style artwork
🔸 Original Waddingtons box included

Card size:
🔸 5.8 × 8.8 cm
🔸 2¼" × 3½" (standard poker size)

Condition:
🔸 Cards in very good condition
🔸 Box in good vintage condition, showing light wear consistent with age

🪶 Collector’s Note
Double-deck Waddingtons sets with matching Wedgwood-style designs are increasingly difficult to find, especially complete and well preserved. This set represents a fine example of British card craftsmanship and design, appealing equally to collectors of vintage playing cards, Wedgwood enthusiasts, and lovers of classic game history.

This very rare French card deck, produced in 1981, is themed around medieval religious artwork and the traditional patron saints of professions and guilds. More than a playing card deck, it was conceived as both an educational and cultural tool, blending sacred iconography with structured reference content.

Each figure card depicts a saint associated with a specific profession or social role, while the deck includes lexicon / glossary cards listing trades and their corresponding patron saints. The two Jokers are integral to the symbolic structure of the deck and complete its instructional purpose.

🔹 Title: Les Saints – Patrons des Corporations et Protecteurs
🔹 Year: 1981
🔹 Theme: Medieval religious art & patron saints of trades
🔹 Content: Illustrated saint cards + glossary / lexicon cards
🔹 Educational system: Professions mapped to their protective saints
🔹 Jokers: 2, included for symbolic and educational use
🔹 Artwork: Medieval-inspired illustrations with vibrant traditional coloring
🔹 Material: Standard cardstock with decorative blue backs
🔹 Box dimensions: approx. 13.5 × 9.5 cm
🔹 Condition: Very good overall; box and cards well preserved for age

A fascinating and uncommon deck appealing to collectors of religious iconography, educational card games, medieval art, and French cultural history.

🪶 Collector’s Note
This deck stands out as a rare late-20th-century revival of medieval symbolic teaching through cards. By associating saints with professions, it preserves a centuries-old tradition once common in guild culture and popular devotion. Complete examples with box and glossary cards are increasingly difficult to find, making this set especially desirable for collectors of unusual thematic decks and historical teaching tools.