S.S. France playing cards

Published April 18, 2011 Updated July 26, 2022

A special non-standard pack of playing cards was designed by M. Marie for the maiden voyage of the transatlantic liner S.S. France in 1962.

1962 France Grimaud Shipping Souvenir

S.S. France maiden voyage playing cards

produced by B. P. Grimaud, 1962

A special non-standard pack of playing cards was designed by M. Marie for the maiden voyage of the transatlantic liner S.S. France in 1962. The four Aces depict previous ships named “France” and the court cards show typical crew and passengers from the respective eras; note that these are different at each end! The colours of the tricolour French flag predominate in the designs. The S.S. France, the longest Atlantic liner at 1035ft, entered service in 1962 and was CGT's last flagship, succeeding the great Normandie and Ile de France. She was withdrawn in 1974 on the removal of government subsidies and laid up at Le Havre until 1979, when she was bought by Norwegian Cruise Line and renamed Norway. See the Box

S.S. France maiden voyage playing cards published by B. P. Grimaud, 1962 S.S France playing cards published by B. P. Grimaud, 1962

Above: S.S. France playing cards published by B. P. Grimaud, 1962. The 2 Jokers depict 20th century cabin boys of the French Line. The ship was owned by Compagnie Generale Transatlantique (CGT) known as “The French Line” in English-speaking countries. For further reading see: Cooper, Michael, “A Pack by Grimaud for the Liner France”, in The Playing-Card, Journal of the International Playing-Card Society, Vol.34 No.2, Oct-Dec 2005, pp.137-139.

avatar
1,478 Articles

By Simon Wintle

Member since February 01, 1996

Founder and editor of the World of Playing Cards since 1996. He is a former committee member of the IPCS and was graphics editor of The Playing-Card journal for many years. He has lived at various times in Chile, England and Wales and is currently living in Extremadura, Spain. Simon's first limited edition pack of playing cards was a replica of a seventeenth century traditional English pack, which he produced from woodblocks and stencils.

Related Articles

1999 Le Journal de Mickey

Le Journal de Mickey

Perforated sheet of cards with Disney characters issued with the magazine Le Journal de Mickey.

1897 Tarot hiéroglyphique égyptien

Tarot hiéroglyphique égyptien

The design of the cards draws inspiration from various religious and philosophical traditions merged...

2024 La Réussite (Sébastien Féraut)

La Réussite (Sébastien Féraut)

Sébastien Féraut’s designs inspired by the animal kingdom for a set promoting patience games.

2021 Le Tarot de Sète

Le Tarot de Sète

Reinterpretation of the Tarot de Marseille by Julien Labat, an artist from Sète.

2022 Oracle Rock

Oracle Rock

Cartomantic set depicting rock and pop stars, designed by La Rata, with a book by Virginie Despentes...

1994 Jeu Numismatique

Jeu Numismatique

European coins of all periods replace the traditional courts and pips.

1990 Jeu Philatélique

Jeu Philatélique

Cards with French postage stamps featuring famous literary figures.

1990 Tarot Philatélique

Tarot Philatélique

Tarot game pack with French postage stamps on all the courts, aces and trumps.

1945 Jeu Philatélique – Les Colonies Françaises

Jeu Philatélique – Les Colonies Françaises

Philatelic card game featuring real postage stamps from the French colonies.

1984 Tarot Actuel 1984

Tarot Actuel 1984

Major arcana to cut out, issued with the French magazine Actuel, using photographic images.

1990 The Glasgow Pack

The Glasgow Pack

Issued to celebrate Glasgow’s reign as European City of Culture in 1990, with city views and works o...

1865 Spanish pattern by Eugène Boisse

Spanish pattern by Eugène Boisse

Spanish pattern published by Eugène Boisse, Bordeaux.

1979 Baraja Turística del País Vasco

Baraja Turística del País Vasco

Basque poker deck of 55 cards published by Fournier with scenic views of the Basque Country.

1860 Catalan pattern by B.P Grimaud

Catalan pattern by B.P Grimaud

Standard Spanish Catalan pattern deck made in Paris by B.P Grimaud.

1872 Cartes politiques : Jeu d'actualité

Cartes politiques : Jeu d'actualité

Political playing cards published by Grimaud et Chartier, Paris, 1872.

1983 Le Poker Politique

Le Poker Politique

French politicians and various world leaders caricatured by the German artist Bubec.