Prize Cards/Bon Points

1950? 1 card featuring "The Heron" by Jean Adrien Mercier on the front and "Bon Point" on the verso,and lines on which to name the school and class of the recipient of this prize. "Lion Noir." That fish does not seem so small to me! Lovely work again, typical of Mercier.

1950? 1 card featuring "The Heron" by Jean Adrien Mercier on the front and "Bon Point" on the verso,and lines on which to name the school and class of the recipient of this prize. "Lion Noir." That snail better watch out!

1930? 1 small (about 2" x 2¾") colored "Bon Point" card illustrating La Fontaine's FC. #10. Phosphatine Falières. L. Bellenand et Fils. Here is an example of simple colored printing that is not exact. I presume that "Bon Point" indicates a prize card. The verso includes the moral "Tout flatteur vit aux dépens de celui qui l'écoute."

1930? 2 cards presenting scenes from two La Fontaine fables with a "Certificate of Satisfaction" on the back. Just over 7" x 5½". These large cards might seem in our culture to bring together two disparate functions, namely of the small picture-card and of the large certificate. The scenes here are "Le Laboureur et ses Enfants" and MM. The latter is drying her eyes with her apron. One of the two certificate formulas on the back fills in a "3" to help date these cards to the very early 30's. The picture side of these cards is identical with the picture-sides of the large trade cards I have listed under Arlatte/Printemps/Jacques. The more recent four cards have hand-written testimonials on the verso, not the printed citation of the earlier found cards.

1953? Set of fifteen Olivier "Bon Point" cards, 3" x 2⅜". When little French kids performed well in school, they got a "Bon Point" card. When they amassed 10 "Bon Points" they could exchange them for a large format image or other prize.

1950? 1 card featuring FC by Jean Adrien Mercier on the front and "Bon Point" on the verso,and lines on which to name the school and class of the recipient of this prize. "Lion Noir." $3.55 from Jeannick Brisson, Baignes Sainte Radgonde, France, through Ebay, June, '20. I recognize Mercier's style immediately from the lovely menus he did for transatlantic ships. I am surprised that there is not a space for listing the pupil's name!

1950? 11 cards each with a simple cartoon illustration of a La Fontaine's fable on one side and the text of the fable on the other. 3" x 4¾". Apparently given as school prizes for attendance or punctuality. 10 Francs apiece from Helen Moncourt on the Quai de la Seine, May, '97. Simple figures, strong colors, and lively scenes make this a good set for children. My favorite here is TMCM. These rats are having fun! For a copy of MM that landed elsewhere in the collection, see "Individual Fable Cards."

1920? Twelve cards, each with a line to be completed with a child's name after "Bon Point de." 2¾" x 4". Each card is signed (Ferdinand) "Bac." There is also regularly a further--illegible--signature at the picture's lower edge. Each verso contains La Fontaine's text and these two attributions: "A. Jeandé, Libraire-Éditeur, Paris" and "Paris - Imp. Des Arts et Manuifactures, 12, rue Paul-Lelong." $6 for GGE from Bertrand Cocq, Calonne-Ricouart, France, March, '01. $13.90 for the other ten from Patrick Ruelle, Monaco, through Ebay, June, '20.

Bon Point Chocolat Corona 1925? Bon Point Chocolat Corona. Delespaul Havez. 4 small cards About 2" x 2¾". St. Ouen, August, '15. This series of four cards is among the smaller but more nicely done cards that this collection has. The four images are well done. The picture side of the card includes a fable title at its top, a colored image, and then three lines of advertisement: Bon-Point, Offert par le Chocolat, Delespaul-Hayez." The verso is identical on all four: Chocolat Corona Delespaul Havez: Le Meilleur Chocolat pour votre Gouter. Exigez-Le!!" FS; WL; "The Hare and the Frogs"; and "The Old Woman and Her Two Servant-Girls."