A complete set of Le Jeu des ‘Atouts de la Vie’ playing cards

“L’ON PEUT TOUT PERDRE, SAUF L’HONNEUR”

A complete set of 50 colour printed cards, each measuring 7.5 x 11.5cm, comprising 10 sets of 5 cards, each representing a different virtue; Cleanliness, Hygiene, Education, Instruction, Honesty, Discipline, Courage, Conscience, Idealism and Honour; captions printed below in black and red ink on a pink background; rounded corners; the versos with a red moiré pattern; the original rule card also included, complete with the 'Witho' trademark label; some corners a little worn, creased or missing, not affecting images or text; a little overall toning, spotting, and the odd small mark, all contained in the original colour printed box, which has some stains and has at some point undergone gluing; the upper flap present but detached. 

A fascinating deck of cards with important military and social significance, produced by the Vichy Government during the Second World War and extolling the virtues - somewhat ironically - that their citizens should adopt, including honneur, propreté, hygiène, éducation, etc. in order to live a ‘dignified life’. The rules are simple, with teams of two to four players each being dealt ten cards, from which they must form sets of each virtue, and the player with all ten ‘trumps’ wins and collects the bets. Characteristics such as politeness, respect for women, patience and helping the weak are valued, as are several traits which would of course be invaluable during the tumultuous time in which they were printed; leadership, travel, and valor in the face of war. 

The Vichy Government of France was formed after France’s surrender to the invading Germans in the spring of 1940. Led by Marshal Philippe Pétain, it governed the nominally ‘free’ unoccupied southern zone from the resort town of Vichy while actively collaborating with Nazi Germany. Propaganda material produced during this time aimed to encourage submissiveness under the guise of a popular and entertaining children’s game.  

Made with card produced during wartime restrictions, complete sets are rare, and even more so with the original box and rule sheet. The National Museum of Education in Rouen has an incomplete set, consisting of just 18 cards. 

SKU: 1800204