c.1890 Livre de Destin

A pique set of cards of the suits piques, coeurs, carreaux, and trefles (spades, hearts, diamonds, and clubs). It is intended for the purposes of fortune-telling as well as for ordinary play, but belongs to the amusing variety of fortune-telling cards, and not to the serious divinatory class.

Each card-piece has a representation of a small numeral card at its upper left-hand corner. Occupying the greater portion of the piece is an emblematic design, including full-length figures and landscapes; below is the title. The ace of piques has on it a Cupid on clouds, about to let off an arrow on some one below. Above him are two billing doves, below is the title, L'Amour. The ten of carreaux exhibits a large parterre of flowers, from which a serpent protrudes his neck. Over these are some birds hovering, and at a little distance other birds arc being caught in a net. At the lower margin are the words: "Piege ou Trahison."

A book of explication accompanies the set. It is entitled: "Le Livre de Destin," and commences with an "Epitre aux Dames," by M. Violet, editeur, which begins with the assurance that " L'homme galant doit toujours faire hommage aux Dames du fruit de ses travaux." After the address comes the "Maniere de tirer les Cartes," followed by an " Explication des Cartes, "with finally the "Rencontre des Cartes ayant meme valeur" (171-172).