Grimaud “Le Jeu de Marseille” Playing Cards, Surrealist Artists Designs c.1940, Andre Dimanche Published c.1983

Collectibles : Playing Cards France : Grimaud "Jeu Marseille"

 

Mint, sealed deck of fantastic cards printed by Grimaud and edited and published by Andre Dimanche, c.1983, titled «Le Jeu de Marseille.» The deck was conceived in Marseille during a meeting of the Surrealists in 1940, and the aces and court cards were designed by 8 surrealist artists (2 cards each) – Victor Brauner, Andre Breton, Oscar Dominguez, Max Ernst, Jacques Herold, Wilfredo Lam, Jacqueline Lamba, and Andre Masson. These designs were then copied by Robert Delangade in one session. The Ubu Jokers are an Alfred Jarry design.

The suits are non-standard: a Keyhole is a symbol of cognition; a Flame is a symbol of love; a Star is a symbol of dreams; and a rolling Wheel in flames is a symbol for revolution. Similarly, the indices of the court cards are non-standard: “G” for Genius; “S” for Siren; and “M” for Magician. On each court card the name of someone admired or followed by the Surrealists is mentioned, including Baudelaire, Freud, Hegel, Sade, and Pancho Villa. The deck has 52 cards, plus 2 Jokers, plus a backed insert card introducing the deck. The cards are bridge size (90mm x 59mm), and come in a hard plastic box that may be original.

Images are supplied from an open deck that I own, but the deck here for sale is still sealed (see final picture).

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Item ID: T00001144