Fashion costume pack by O. Gibert

During the mid-19th century, O. Gibert, a Parisian publisher located at rue des Singes No. 3, released a collection of fashion costume packs. In this elegant example the court-cards have whole length figures in contemporary dress. The four kings are designated with a crown above their suit mark but are all unnamed gentlemen in paletots, frock dress and hunting dress. The four queens are wearing indoor, walking or dress costumes. The valets are attired as coachmen, footmen and gamekeepers. The valet of clubs has the lettering "O. Gibert , Fabt. Paris" at the bottom of the card. The four aces have ornamental decorations around each suitmark.

The title is sometimes ambiguous, as wrappers were printed on glossy paper, typically featuring allegorical female figures pouring out various fashion items such as bonnets, muffs and shoes from a cornucopia, with generic labels like Modes, Costumes Historiques, etc. See the wrapper►

Above: Jeu de cartes published by O. Gibert (Paris) c.1855-1865. The backs are coloured blue and smooth. Intaglio engraving enhanced with watercolor; 8.4 x 5.6 cm, Source gallica.bnf.fr / Bibliothèque nationale de France • Jeu de cartes►

References

Willshire, W. H.: A Descriptive Catalogue of Playing and Other Cards in the British Museum, Trustees of the British Museum, 1876, reprint 1975 (French 69).

British Museum: Museum number 1982,U.4583►