Collection of Bouasse-Lebel and Bouasse-Jeune holy cards

Eulalie Lebel was born in Paris in 1809, the only daughter of the printer Jacques-Auguste Lebel. In 1827 she married Francois-Marie Bouasse, a foreman at a printing house. Facing destitution when her husband abandoned her and her two children, she founded a printing house in 1845 under the name "Madame Bouasse, nee Lebel." In 1847, Maison Bouasse-Lebel moved to the Saint-Sulpice neighborhood of Paris, the center of the religious printing industry in post-revolutionary France. Eulalie Bouasse sold the now-successful company to her eldest son, Henri, in 1852. Her other surviving son, Emile, continued to work at the company. During these early years, the company produced books, maps, and other items in addition to religious images. The company received significant praise for their religious products, including a papal commendation in 1871.

In 1867 Emile left the company, and began his own printing house under the name Bouasse-Jeune. This company was also located in the Saint-Sulpice neighborhood of Paris, and a hostile relationship existed between the two brothers and their companies. The introduction of chromolithography in the 1870s was embraced by both Bouasse-Lebel and Bouasse-Jeune, and continued their competition. The two companies became known for their intricate designs, highly symbolic and detailed artwork, and innovative use of printing technologies.

Emile Bouasse passed away in 1881 at the age of 49, and his wife and children took over the company. Eulalie Bouasse-Lebel passed away in 1898. Henri Bouasse-Lebel passed away in 1912, and his company was taken over by his son Albert. Bouasse-Jeune discontinued production sometime in the beginning of the twentieth century.

Following World War II, interest in religious images began to decline, and the innovative artwork and technology pursued by the Bouasse firms slowed as well. Holy cards from this era depict less intricate artwork, or use photographic images. Albert Bouasse-Lebel passed away in 1955, and the Maison Bouasse-Lebel stopped production in the 1960s.