Article: 011625

Country: France

Manufacturer: Mozard, Md (Marchand) Papetier (Stationer), rue des Lombards 43, Paris.

Mythological deck. 22/32 (the suit of Hearts, plus King of Clubs and Queen of Spades missing, but joined in copies).  Hand-col. copper engraving, 130x90 mm (sheets), 52x39 mm (cards), square corners, no index mark. Backs: Plain white.
Maker’s name on King of Diamonds, Queen of Clubs, Jack of Spades, 9 of Clubs, 9 of Diamonds and 8 of Spades. Circa 1810.
Lit.: Donation Marteau (Le Vieux Papier 219) 345; Field 29.
The court cards represent Roman gods and goddesses (Jupiter, Juno, Mercury...), while aces and numerals are transformed. Here we see a potpurri of scenes, from the Chinese pagoda to the „suprême bon ton“ (the highest good taste = people according to the latest fashion), a boxing match, an Arab bivouac... Funny images printed on pages numbered from 1 to 8 (one number per rank, king =1, ace = 4 and then the numerals from the 7 to the 10), just as in the Donation Marteau. Our impressions are on somewhat firmer card stock. Mozard is not listed in either Duchartre/Saulnier [1944] or D’Allemagne. In 1808, he places an advertisement in a newspaper informing confectioners that he has in stock all kinds of papers with mottoes, rebuses, songs, etc. (as wrappers, inserts?)
Very good conservation.

$ 622.62