Aluette by Dieudonné Jeune, Orléans, c.1850
Aluette game by Fabrique Dieudonné Jeune, Orléans, c.1850.
Aluette pack produced by Jean Dieudonné (1811-1886), a Dieudonné family descendent who had emigrated to Orleans, France. He was the son of the Luxembourgish card-maker Matthias Dieudonné and Catherine Schmidt. He married Eugénie-Catherine Lamy on April 16, 1845. He was first associated with his brother Jean-Mathieu between 1841 and 1845 trading as Dieudonné frères, after which he then ran his own factory named Dieudonné Jeune. The cards in this 48-card pack show several Spanish stylistic characteristics including ‘pintas’ or border-breaks, with the legend “Naipes Finos” on the ace of coins, and are said to be intended for the Spanish market.

Above: 48-card Aluette pack produced by Fabrique Dieudonné Jeune (Jean Dieudonné, active 1845-1886), Orléans, c.1850. Stencil-coloured engravings. Source gallica.bnf.fr / Bibliothèque nationale de France Jeu d'aluette édité pour l'Espagne►

By Simon Wintle
Member since February 01, 1996
I am the founder of The World of Playing Cards (est. 1996), a website dedicated to the history, artistry and cultural significance of playing cards and tarot. Over the years I have researched various areas of the subject, acquired and traded collections and contributed as a committee member of the IPCS and graphics editor of The Playing-Card journal. Having lived in Chile, England, Wales, and now Spain, these experiences have shaped my work and passion for playing cards. Amongst my achievements is producing a limited-edition replica of a 17th-century English pack using woodblocks and stencils—a labour of love. Today, the World of Playing Cards is a global collaborative project, with my son Adam serving as the technical driving force behind its development. His innovative efforts have helped shape the site into the thriving hub it is today. You are warmly invited to become a contributor and share your enthusiasm.
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