Carnets de bal were ornate eighteenth century jeweled cases to house dance cards. Often made of precious metals, and decorated with painted enamels and jewels, they were issued for royal and aristocratic balls. The photographs in this book depict a painted portrait of the collector, two full page photographs of the entire collection, and 260 shaped carbon prints, arranged four per page, showing the front and back of the 130 carnets de bal. The photographer probably was Mathias Gerschel, who was active in Strassbourg in 1891.