Rare French Saints Deck – Les Saints Guérisseurs • Religious Art Playing Cards (1980s)

A rare and wonderfully unusual French deck published by Dusserre in the 1980s, Les Saints Guérisseurs (“The Healing Saints”) associates each playing card with a saint known for healing or spiritual protection.

This unique deck blends religious art, folklore, and traditional devotional practices. Each card features a beautifully reproduced artwork—miniatures, illuminated manuscripts, altarpieces, or medieval paintings—depicting a saint and the ailment they were traditionally invoked to heal.

The Jokers and the 2s contain long alphabetical lists of illnesses (from acne to shingles, paralysis, insomnia, ulcers, etc.) with the corresponding patron saints. This system was historically used in devotional card games in France and is now extremely rare.

🔹 Publication period: 1980s (Dusserre, France)
🔹 Dimensions: Approx. 3.5 × 2.5 inches (standard poker size)
🔹 Condition
– Cards: Very good vintage condition — they shuffle smoothly and the artwork is crisp
– Box: Visible wear and age, consistent with storage, but still complete and functional (see photos)
🔹 Language: French

🪶 Collector’s Note

Dusserre decks have become highly collectible since the publisher ceased operations.
Les Saints Guérisseurs is especially rare due to its unusual theme and its reliance on medieval iconography sourced from major French museums (BNF, Musée Jacquemart-André, Musée de Cluny, etc.). Complete copies in good condition are increasingly hard to find.
Perfect for collectors of rare French decks, Catholic devotional ephemera, or anyone interested in the intersection of religion, art, and cartomancy.