Jeu D’Aluettes - Boéchat Frères c.1950

Aluette pack manufactured by Boéchat Frères, Bordeaux, c.1950. Aluette cards tend to have features found on archaic Spanish cards, and these cards are a sort of hybrid between standard 19th/20th century Aluette and the relatively modern Spanish Catalan pattern. The characteristic, slightly mischievous additions, or embellishments, to the lower numeral cards and mounted cavalières (female, no.11) are in the style of French Aluette cards, but the sotas (male jacks, no.10), kings (no.12), the Spanish suit symbol designs and anchor-caducceus motif on the four of coins are in the style of the standard Spanish Catalan pattern. The box describes the cards as: “Jeu D’Aluettes Vernies Nº 46”.

Above: Jeu D’Aluettes manufactured by Boéchat Frères, Bordeaux, c.1950. 48 varnished cards in cardboard box. The maker’s initials I.B.F. Bordeaux can be seen on the ace of coins.