Stack's Bowers & Ponterio
January 2018 NYINC Auction 11-13 Jan 2018
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SWITZERLAND. Gaming Tokens (Jetons) Illustrating Ovid's Metamorphosis, Books I, II & III, 1709-17.
Approximately 40 pieces in lot. All 31 mm. By Roussel and Dassier. Thirty pieces in bronzed copper and ten in brass, no duplication. In 1709 the Paris mint medalist Jean Roussel obtained permission in Geneva to strike a series of jetons for use in the card game Jeux de l'Hombre, the first card game with "bidding" and a predecessor of Bridge. Each of three players was required to have his own distinct markers, thus the jetons illustrate scenes from the first three books of The Metamorphosis. Each set's pieces have a common obverse, and the different reverses are numbered. Each set includes a dedicatory portrait piece: Lous XIV, his son and his grandson. In 1717 Jean Dassier of Geneva acquired Roussel's dies and continued the sale of the sets, adding his own dedicatory piece. It is possible the metal variants distinguish Dassier's pieces from those actually issued and sold earlier by Roussel. Likely, the Ovid series inspired Dassier's Roman History sixty piece series in a very similar format. Includes eighteen pieces for Book I, ten for Book II and twelve for Book III. Included are the Louis XIV portrait piece for Book I and that for Book III. Some with minor debris other quite wholesome. Close personal inspection is advised and will reward the diligent bidder. SOLD AS IS/NO RETURNS. Average grade EXTREMELY FINE or better.
Estimate: $2000.00- $2500.00
Approximately 40 pieces in lot. All 31 mm. By Roussel and Dassier. Thirty pieces in bronzed copper and ten in brass, no duplication. In 1709 the Paris mint medalist Jean Roussel obtained permission in Geneva to strike a series of jetons for use in the card game Jeux de l'Hombre, the first card game with "bidding" and a predecessor of Bridge. Each of three players was required to have his own distinct markers, thus the jetons illustrate scenes from the first three books of The Metamorphosis. Each set's pieces have a common obverse, and the different reverses are numbered. Each set includes a dedicatory portrait piece: Lous XIV, his son and his grandson. In 1717 Jean Dassier of Geneva acquired Roussel's dies and continued the sale of the sets, adding his own dedicatory piece. It is possible the metal variants distinguish Dassier's pieces from those actually issued and sold earlier by Roussel. Likely, the Ovid series inspired Dassier's Roman History sixty piece series in a very similar format. Includes eighteen pieces for Book I, ten for Book II and twelve for Book III. Included are the Louis XIV portrait piece for Book I and that for Book III. Some with minor debris other quite wholesome. Close personal inspection is advised and will reward the diligent bidder. SOLD AS IS/NO RETURNS. Average grade EXTREMELY FINE or better.
Estimate: $2000.00- $2500.00