Miniature French fashion playing cards
Tiny 19th.century ‘Cartes Mignonnes’ playing cards depicting the fashions of the period
There have been several packs of cards produced in France in the mid 1800's depicting people in costumes and fashionable clothing of the period. However, this pack is an exquisite miniature version printed in chromolithography probably by Pierrat Imp. of Paris and designed by Ange Louis Janet Lange. There are copies of a standard size version of this pack in the Cary collection (France 388) and Fournier collection (France 216).
The kings are all elegant gentlemen while the jacks are younger men in service, all holding top hats. Even one of the fashionable queens is wearing a top hat. The back is beautifully decorated with a large flower. The cards a very tiny and are just 34 x 22 mm. in size. The pack has 32 cards and comes in a small white cardboard holder with the text 'Cartes Mignonnes' embossed on the front and 'Cartes Jouet' on the reverse.
Below: the cardboard holder for the playing cards
References: Fournier (France 216), Cary Collection (France 388)
All cards shown are from the collection of Paul Symons ©.

By Paul Symons
Member since February 01, 2016
I'm British but I have now lived in the Netherlands for more than 50 years and am still enjoying every minute of it. I started collecting playing cards in the early 1980’s after speaking with my neighbour who was at that time a croupier in a casino. I started with just collecting jokers, but that soon led me to complete packs of cards and eventually to specialising in old and antique playing cards, particularly those of C.L. Wüst of Frankfurt, Germany. I am presently the Dutch representative of the I.P.C.S. and the auctioneer at the IPCS conventions.
Related Articles

Tarot hiéroglyphique égyptien
The design of the cards draws inspiration from various religious and philosophical traditions merged...

La Réussite (Sébastien Féraut)
Sébastien Féraut’s designs inspired by the animal kingdom for a set promoting patience games.

Le Tarot de Sète
Reinterpretation of the Tarot de Marseille by Julien Labat, an artist from Sète.

Oracle Rock
Cartomantic set depicting rock and pop stars, designed by La Rata, with a book by Virginie Despentes...

Jim Lyngvild playing cards
Photographs of Danish royalty as imagined by fashion designer Jim Lyngvild.

Jeu Numismatique
European coins of all periods replace the traditional courts and pips.

Jeu Philatélique
Cards with French postage stamps featuring famous literary figures.

Tarot Philatélique
Tarot game pack with French postage stamps on all the courts, aces and trumps.

Jeu Philatélique – Les Colonies Françaises
Philatelic card game featuring real postage stamps from the French colonies.

Tarot Actuel 1984
Major arcana to cut out, issued with the French magazine Actuel, using photographic images.

Spanish pattern by Eugène Boisse
Spanish pattern published by Eugène Boisse, Bordeaux.

Catalan pattern by B.P Grimaud
Standard Spanish Catalan pattern deck made in Paris by B.P Grimaud.

Cartes politiques : Jeu d'actualité
Political playing cards published by Grimaud et Chartier, Paris, 1872.

Le Poker Politique
French politicians and various world leaders caricatured by the German artist Bubec.

Swiss playing cards by Iehan Hemau
17th century Swiss-suited playing cards by Iehan Hemau of Épinal.

SCOR playing cards
Bizarre and fantastical images by the artist Roland Topor for the SCOR reinsurance company.
Most Popular
Our top articles from the past 28 days