Le Geant, or the Second Empire pack
Transformation cards issued during the Second Empire under Napoleon III.
The title of this pack is derived from inscriptions on the cards, as the official title and name of the publisher are unknown. The date 1859 appears on the six of hearts (inside the two central hearts), and the 3 of Diamonds has “Guerre de Crimee” and the names of three of its battles, so the date of the pack’s issue would seem to be during the Second Empire under Napoleon III, somewhere between 1859-1870.
Above: All images by kind permision of Anastasia Dancenco.
By Simon Wintle
Spain • Member since February 01, 1996 • Contact
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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