Antique French 1890 Playing Cards – “RÉPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE – DÉCRET DU 12 AVRIL 1890”

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.

My shop's location is in France.
▲ Tracking number will be provided.
▲ Order processing Time: 2-5 business days.
▲ Delivery Time: 7 days to 5 weeks+ — (USA: average 10–14 days)
▲ NO REFUNDS due to shipping delays. Please, kindly DO NOT PURCHASE if you cannot give it 5+WEEKS
▲ Vintage items are typically over 20 yrs old. Please, DO NOT expect them to be new.

If you have any questions, you can always reach me at rolandfabre@gmail.com