Atouts de la Vie
“Atouts de la Vie” wartime card game created by Madame Lucien Willemetz, c.1940.
Atouts de la Vie card game created by Madame Lucien Willemetz. This wartime card game was produced by the corrupt Vichy Government of France, which was formed after France’s surrender to the invading Germans in the spring of 1940. The illustrations extol virtues such as work ethic, honour and idealism which they decided their citizens should adopt in order to lead dignified lives, whilst not adopting any of them themselves. The object of the game is to collect all ten virtues. See the Box►
Above: “Atouts de la Vie” wartime card game created by Madame Lucien Willemetz and published by Witho, c.1940. 10 virtues x 5 = 50 cards complete, made on wartime restrictions card in original box with info card. Images courtesy Nick Arden Thomas.
By Simon Wintle
Member since February 01, 1996
I am the founder of The World of Playing Cards (est. 1996), a website dedicated to the history, artistry and cultural significance of playing cards and tarot. Over the years I have researched various areas of the subject, acquired and traded collections and contributed as a committee member of the IPCS and graphics editor of The Playing-Card journal. Having lived in Chile, England, Wales, and now Spain, these experiences have shaped my work and passion for playing cards. Amongst my achievements is producing a limited-edition replica of a 17th-century English pack using woodblocks and stencils—a labour of love. Today, the World of Playing Cards is a global collaborative project, with my son Adam serving as the technical driving force behind its development. His innovative efforts have helped shape the site into the thriving hub it is today. You are warmly invited to become a contributor and share your enthusiasm.
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