Victorian “femdom” Series

Item Details

Lot of 3 gold trade cards .

I call these my Victorian “femdom” series of Victorian trade cards. 

The French were as fascinated by English style upper class and aristocratic schoolhouse discipline (“la vice anglais” as shown in the cards) as were the English, and women who provided paid disciplinary services were known as mistresses or governesses from the 18th century onward. 

These cards portray a woman judge (“la femme advocate”), military officer (“la femme officer”) and disciplinarian, all positions that were not officially held by women and all wearing garments which would have been unacceptable in polite society of Victoriana. 

Nothing on the backs and gold washed on the fronts.