Jeu de la Belle Epoque
Jeu de la Belle Epoque, remembering a golden age of optimism, progress and elegance.
La Belle Epoque was a period of French and European history, usually considered to begin around 1871–1880 and to end with the outbreak of World War I in 1914. This pack, published by J.C. Dusserre, Paris in 1980, presents on the court cards significant individuals from the worlds of art, science and literature of the era who are included in the Grévin [waxwork] Museum in Paris. The pip cards are standard, while the two jokers appear to represent the Victor Hugo’s Hunchback of Notre Dame. See the box►
Above: Jeu de la Belle Epoque published by J.C. Dusserre, Paris in 1980.
Overall, La Belle Epoque is often romanticized as a golden age of optimism, progress and elegance, although it also had its share of social inequality and political tensions lurking beneath the surface.
References
Fournier Museum, Playing cards II, France no. 576.
By Peter Burnett
United Kingdom • Member since July 27, 2022
I graduated in Russian and East European Studies from Birmingham University in 1969. It was as an undergraduate in Moscow in 1968 that I stumbled upon my first 3 packs of “unusual” playing cards which fired my curiosity and thence my life-long interest. I began researching and collecting cards in the early 1970s, since when I’ve acquired over 3,330 packs of non-standard cards, mainly from North America, UK and Western Europe, and of course from Russia and the former communist countries.
Following my retirement from the Bodleian Library in Dec. 2007 I took up a new role as Head of Library Development at the International Network for the Availability of Scientific Publications (INASP) to support library development in low-income countries. This work necessitated regular training visits to many sub-Saharan African countries and also further afield, to Vietnam, Nepal and Bangladesh – all of which provided rich opportunities to further expand my playing card collection.
Since 2019 I’ve been working part-time in the Bodleian Library where I’ve been cataloguing the bequest of the late Donald Welsh, founder of the English Playing Card Society.
Activity for Jeu de la Belle Epoque
Sign in to comment or save this article.
Related Articles
Paris 2024 Olympics 1
Modern Paris pattern courts, special ace and jokers for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
Les Saints Guérisseurs et Protecteurs
Healing and patron saints portrayed in paintings, manuscripts, altarpieces and statuary.
British Monarchs
Commemorating the royal wedding of Charles, Prince of Wales to Lady Diana Spencer on the 29th
Correspondances
‘Correspondances’ depicting the 52 transfer stations of the Paris Métropolitain, France, 1985.
Jeu Gothique
‘Jeu Gothique’ illustrating the Gothic period in France, published by Editions Dusserre.
Jeu Bonaparte
Jeu Bonaparte depicting the extended family of Napoleon Bonaparte, France, 1978
Jeu des Bonnets Phrygiens
Reproduction of Jeu des Bonnets Phrygiens relating to the Phrygian cap (or liberty cap), France, 198...
Jeu de la Vme
A political pack designed by Pino Zac and published in 1977 by Editions Arts et Lettres.
Les métiers et leurs protecteurs
“Les métiers et leurs protecteurs” playing cards published by Editions Dusserre, c. 1995.
Costumes Alsaciens
Typical costumes and views of Alsace together with lists of the principal sights.
Les Chemins de Saint-Jacques
Paintings, statues, monuments and maps associated with different routes to Compostela.
Les Ordres de Chevalerie
Six orders of chivalry represented pictorially by the artist Patrick Dallanégra.
EU52 Deck of Cards
“EU52 Deck of Cards“ Eurosceptic political playing cards published by 52 Jokers Ltd, United Kingdom,...
The story behind some special Jokers
How the “Gibbons” Jokers came into being.
Brexit Most Wanted
‘Brexit Most Wanted’ playing cards, United Kingdom, 2019.
Political playing cards (2017)
Political playing cards by the British cartoonist Oliver Preston, United Kingdom, 2017.
Le Régime Bush
“Le Régime Bush” anti-war playing cards designed by Thierry Meyssan, France, 2003.
63: The descendants of the French regional patterns: 1
A great many regional patterns were exported from France and subsequently copied elsewhere. Some of ...
Éditions Dusserre, Paris
Éditions Dusserre, Paris: games with a history.
Tarot des Sapeurs-Pompiers de Paris
Tarot des Sapeurs-Pompiers de Paris, a French Fire Brigade tarot deck published by Éditions Dusserre...
Most Popular
Our top articles from the past 60 days
