Little could be found about Bourrut-Lemeri, even the Christian name proved elusive. Records could be found of a set of 25 French educational playing cards dated 1814 and another with the same title as this including 86 cards. It was dated 1819 whereas the set offered here bears no date. The French system of Departments was set up following the Revolution to diffuse the various regional differences and create a more homogenous society. Beginning in 1790 with 83 of them it rapidly expanded to 130 by 1810. Following the defeat of Napoleon in 1814-15 this was revised down to 86 after the Treaty of Vienna. It remained at this level until 1860. Not in Benezit; Cary Collection 278 (incorrectly dating them 1790); not in Tooley ‘Dictionary’.