me: ... "In a critical phase of the political development (around 1659) the army of Louis attacked Marseille ... but the earlier Tarot-des-Marseilles developments took place in Paris (Vieville-Noblet). Later appeared the real Tarot-de-Marseille (Camoin has 1672 for the Francois Choisson), but then Marseille was under control of Louis XIV.
Perhaps our friend Yves Le Marseillais has some better information about this phase than me."
Yves Le Marseillais: "Hello Huck and all,
About begining of cards in Marseille, we are only sure that in 1601 Marseille was not yet autorised to produce cards by French state.
But.... Marseille cardmakers and other towns was already producing cards illegaly according documents. See below.
In 1631 French state legalised this abnormal situation and added Marseille and some citys to the official list of citys.
"1601, l'Etat ne donne le droit de fabriquer des cartes qu'à certaines villes: Seul 6 villes sont autorisées à fabriquer des cartes: Rouen, Toulouse, Lyon, Thiers, Limoges et Troyes.
Mais d'autres villes passent outre: Dijon, Langres, Nantes, Le Puy, Romans en Isère, Valence, Marseille et «toutes autres villes défendues».
Faisant preuve de réalisme, en 1631 Le Gouvernement ajoute à la liste: Orléans, Angers, Romans en Isère et Marseille."
Concerning François Chosson bear in mind that as per D'Allemagne, he was noted as cardmaker only from 1734 to 1756.
He legaly gave a copy of his wrapper (as per legislation), on21st April 1736 to adequate official bodys.
For me his deck is dated from this period as per documents and his STYLE of course.
Not before 1700 in my opinion.
But BEFORE Conver and this is an important point I think.
Researchs have to be continued on this various points anyway.