P. Steinmann
Single-figure provincial Paris pattern cards with traditional names on the courts manufactured in Copenhagen by P. Steinmann, c.1820.

P. Steinmann, Copenhagen
(active 1798-1820)
Single-figure provincial Paris pattern playing cards with traditional names on the courts (except the Jack of Clubs) manufactured in Copenhagen by Pierre Steinmann in c.1820. French style playing cards were favoured in many European countries and several Danish manufacturers had been producing standard packs of this type since the 1750s or earlier. It is surprising that France, so haughty in elegance and fashion, should be associated with such grotesque playing cards!
Right: detail from the wrapper showing the Royal Monogram of King Frederik VI →
The wrapper includes the official Royal Monogram of King Frederik VI of Denmark, who ruled 1808 to 1839, and the Ace of Diamonds carries the official Danish tax stamp showing three lions inside a crowned shield.

Above: cards in the French style manufactured by P. Steinmann, Copenhagen, c.1810-20. The manufacturer's name is visible on the Jack of clubs and the wrapper. Steinmann had a license for the manufacture of playing cards. The cards have been printed from woodcuts and hand-coloured using stencils in a slightly careless manner using two shades of blue, red, buff and black. The back design consists of a dot-pattern. Images courtesy Hans J. Hinrup.
Pierre Steinmann took over the playing card business of J.V. Dressler in 1797, producing packs until 1820 when the licence was given to Jacob Holmblad.

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

Jim Lyngvild playing cards
Photographs of Danish royalty as imagined by fashion designer Jim Lyngvild.

Bertschinger y Codina - Cartes Françaises
French ‘Paris’ pattern made by Bertschinger y Codina, Barcelona, c.1850.

Damn! Fools by Moon
Damn! Fools playing cards designed by Leo Scherfig, 2022.

Redrawn French pattern (Héron)
Redrawn French pattern retaining traditional elements.

Cartes enfantines
Miniature 18th century Paris pattern cards for children, with decorated aces and 2s.

Valhalla spillekort
Characters from the Valhalla comics, designed by Peter Madsen, as commemorated on a Danish stamp.

Claude Weisbuch
Free reinterpretation of the traditional Paris pattern courts by the artist Claude Weisbuch.

Standard French-suited Bavarian deck by Göbl
French-suited Bavarian deck by Andreas Benedict Göbl, late 18th c.

Old School Playing cards from Moon
Designed and published by Leo Scherfig

Dandy Rock’n Bubble
56 rock and pop stars of the 1980s, issued in Denmark with bubble gum.

Jeanne l’Hachette
Jeanne l’Hachette reprint of 19th century transformation deck, Denmark, 1976.

Velux International
Publicity pack for the Danish company, Velux, manufacturers of roof windows and skylights.

Paris pattern by Leclaire of Paris
Standard designs from a little-known Parisian maker.

Paris pattern variant from Lyon, c1900
Updated courts retaining elements of a standard French pack by C. Gerentes, Lyon.

Paris pattern for WWII troops
Wartime edition of standard designs with fewer colours, a special back design and an overprint.

Cartes Marbrées
A provincial variant of the French ‘Paris’ pattern produced by Daveluy c.1850-1895.
Most Popular
Our top articles from the past 28 days