deck-14-12b

When comparing the decks we noticed that of the courts the Kings represent exactly the same figure, Neptune on Spades, or ocean as in the Grand Navigateurs deck. Amphitrite is on the Queen of Spades in both decks, just like the Queen of Hearts represents the same sea in both decks.

Here are some other cards from both decks. The size of the Grands Navigateurs cards is somewhat bigger. They measure 58 x 89 mm. where the dimensions of the Tripartite cards are 55 x 84 mm. only. We show them at 200% so the fine details in the designs will be visible.

TRIPARTITE		GRANDS NAVIGATEURS

The Atlantic Ocean is described on the extra card of the Tripartite deck as the "sea for the herrings, on which the most beautiful ships cruise". However, there's no herring to be seen in the design and only naval ships for warfare and a submarine are placed in both designs. The handle in the King's hand of the G.N. deck looks a bit like a herring, just like the 6 heads next to it. Other sea life in the design of the G.N. King are a turtle and a shark. Other than a piranha-like fish biting the stick there's no sea life depicted in the Tripartite's King.

Amphitrite is the Goddess of the Sea, wife of Neptune (Poseidon). He sent a dolphin after her, when she had refused to marry him, and the dolphin succeeded to bring her back to him. Dolphins are found in the QS design in the Tripartite deck. Only general looking fish are depicted in the Grand Navigateurs deck's QS.

The Pacific Ocean is described as the "big cup" with its precious content: turtle shell and other shells. The Kings both have heads with Polynesian features. The Tripartite KD holds a conch horn, while the KD in the GN deck holds a tropical fish on a spear.

The "Mer Boréale" is the French name for the Arctic Ocean and it is described as "the serenity of the Great North - Eskimo's and seals". How different from the Antilles Sea, warm and much alive. The Queen of Diamonds depicts the Southern Ocean ("Mer Australe"). Were the waters around the Poles of more strategic value in the warfare at sea?

It was only because we had already studied the Grand Navigateurs deck, while researching all the names on the aces, that we noticed that the aces on the Tripartite deck didn't have portraits. All the designs in the Tripartite deck have a borderline, even all the aces. This line is absent on the aces from the Grand Navigateurs deck.
This is how the deck was shown on Ebay. The human ability to remember and recognize certain things is probably based on general aspects. Jean Delpech has a colorful and detailed style of design. The designs themselves have many references to the sea and its marine life. It's hard to remember all the details and use of colors, so the general idea is captured and remembered. So it's an understandable mistake to confuse this deck with the other.
	Jean Delpech signs all his designs. In the Tripartite deck he signs all of them with JD. The honorary anchor, which he may add to his signature as "Peintre officiel", is only the Jokers. In the Grands Navigateurs deck all his JD signatures on the court cards are accompanied by an anchor, with the exception of the Jack of Spades, where his full name is on the bow of a ship. The aces are only signed JD.
The other Jacks show a pirate, a fisherman and a hobby sailor. The Jack of Spades represents a captain and probably of a naval force, as the "Jean Delpeche" carries different armory.