1. Poilly, Nicolas Jean Baptiste de / Mitoire, Jean-Baptiste.

[18th century Playing Cards] Fortyfive (of 56) vintage geographical & historical playing cards, designed by Nicolas Jean Baptiste de Poilly and printed by Jean-Baptiste Mitoire. Handcoloured set of 45 very rare cards, mainly depicting France and also French Territory of the Illes Balears / Islas Baleares / Balearic Islands Minorque (Menorca) / Mayorque (Mallorca) / Yvice (Ibiza) and Formentera. There are 37 french cards, 4 spanish cards, 3 cards on Flanders and 1 card on Sardinia. The 45 playing cards include 5 cards which essentially are maps showing: Gascogne, Languedoc, Picardie (with Pas de Calais and Canal D’Angleterre), Roussillon and Valencia-Murcia (incl. Balearic Islands).

[Paris, Poilly & Mitoire, c.1763. 8.5 cm x 6 cm. 45 (of 56) copper engraved playing-cards, handcoloured. Loosely in bespoke made solander-box. Very good condition with only minor signs of wear. Extremely rare set.