In the 19th and early 20th century, a serious French schoolboy or girl carried blotter paper to school to dry the ink of his or her dictee. This special paper had an immediate success on the playground at recess when it was printed with colorful images to trade and collect. These 17 cards are from a series of 78 published by the chocolatier Guérin-Boutron. Each is a detailed color illustration of a political event in French history; for example, the baptism of Clovis in Reims, the public penitence of Louis le Débonnaire, Charlemagne's visit to the schools, Saint Geneviève holding strong against Attila the Hun. Like baseball cards, but not. 17 Buvards, Vintage French History chromos (422) $35 Each measures approximately: 10 x 6 cm 4-1/8" x 2-1/2"