BP Grimaud "Jeanne L'Hachette" Transformation Deck, circa 1860

Item — Box: 2, item: 1

Scope and Contents

Unsealed. No casing. No date included on original paperwork. Research returned origin era.

Dimensions: 3" x 4.32"

Quantity: 51

Original inventory number: 18

Dates

Creation: circa 1860

Conditions Governing Access

Advanced notice required for access.

Biographical / Historical

Grimaud (card company) was established in 1851. A few years after establishment, they implemented a process to obtain metallic, rounded corner cards. The original set is known by the name "Jean Hachette" and exists in two "versions": one by Grimaud and one by Maximilian Frommann. The two versions have a number of designs in common and both were published around the same time in the mid-19th century. The cards were designed by E. le Tellier and lithographed by Belin. The queen of spades is Jeanne L'Hachette wearing armor over a blue and yellow skirt printed with fleurs de lys. She holds an ax in her right hand and is pointing with her left as she leads the defense of the town Beauvais in 1472. The court cards are hand-colored and the pip cards have been incorporated into an overall design, thereby "transforming" the playing card into a miniature artwork, making this a Transformation Deck.

Full Extent

From the Collection: 2 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

From the Collection: English

Additional Description

Physical Description

The case has no top or bottom. It is wrapped in a blue-green paisley print and has a sample card, the queen of diamonds, glued to the outside. Each card is detailed and finely illustrated, the face cards in particular being colored. The Grimaud name is printed on the jack of hearts and Tellier and Belin on the king of hearts.