Note 185 — Chapter III · THE PROGRESS OF CARD-PLAYING. (continued 2)
Reading edition
"Principally games of geography, history, and metamorphoses, engraved by Della Bella, from plans furnished by the poet Desmarets, to facilitate the studies of Louis XIV when a child. The idea is said to have been suggested by Cardinal Mazarine."—A pack of military cards, with instructions for playing the game, devised by the Sieur Des Martins, and dedicated to "Son Altesse le Duc de Maine, Colonel-général des Suisses," appeared in 1676. His Highness the Colonel-general, who was the son of Louis XIV and Madame Montespan, was then six years old.
By the favour of F. R. Atkinson, Esq., of Manchester, an assiduous and intelligent collector of curious books, I have had an opportunity of examining two sets of French Historic Cards, without date, but probably published about 1690. One of them is entitled "Cartes des Rois de France. A Paris, chez F. Le Comte, rue St. Jaques, au Chifre du Roi." The title of the other is, "Jeu des Reynes Renommées. A Paris, chez Henri le Gras, Librairie, au 3e pilier de la grande Salle du Palais." Both sets appeared to have been designed exclusively for the purpose of instruction, and not for play.