[PLAYING CARDS]. - Lot 44

[PLAYING CARDS]. "Nouveau jeu de cartes avec costume". S.l., [circa 1820]. - 32 cards, 150 x 100, preserved in their original box illustrated with a watercolor engraving on the upper cover. Set of 32 large cards depicting different male and female characters in colorful French costumes. This card set consists of 32 different engravings, watercolored at the time, printed on very strong, lined paper and framed in green. The four suits, i.e. spades, diamonds, hearts and clubs, are represented by a small engraving (30 x 25 mm) mounted in the top left-hand corner of the card, also framed in green. The figures (jack, queen, king) are also colored. Each card has two distinct indications, different for each one. At the top are questions or statements such as "Do you like to dance?", "Do you dream?", "Are you unfaithful?", "That's the truth", "Anytime", "That's indiscreet". And underneath are divinatory locutions such as "mourning", "feast", "fortune", "blond boy", "love", "victory". An exceptional deck of cards, perfectly preserved in its original box. Provenance: Louis Becker, with bookplate.