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Playing Cards from France

French Playing Cards

Some of the oldest cards still in existence come from France. During the 16th and 17th centuries France was the major supplier of playing cards in Europe.

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Grimaud copy of Wüst playing cards

Grimaud copy of Wüst playing cards

A copy of Wüst house pattern 3

Grimaud Spanish pattern

Grimaud Spanish pattern

Grimaud Spanish pattern, c.1880

Guyenne Pattern - Portrait de Guyenne

Guyenne Pattern - Portrait de Guyenne

The Guyenne pattern emerged from the earlier Languedoc pattern.

Héron French tarot

Héron French tarot

French edition of the ‘Bourgeois’ Tarot by Héron.

Histoire de France

Histoire de France

“Histoire de France” facsimile of French historical deck of 1820.

History of Court Cards

History of Court Cards

The court cards in English packs of playing cards derive from models produced by Pierre Marechal in Rouen around 1565. A pack of such cards is preserved in the museum at Rouen.

Holidays – les côtes françaises

Holidays – les côtes françaises

Holiday destinations around the French coast as depicted by Pauline Launay.

Hôtels-Grils Campanile

Hôtels-Grils Campanile

Publicity pack for the Campanile hotel and restaurant chain featuring French provincial costumes, with designs by James Hodges.

Instructive and Educational Playing Cards

Instructive and Educational Playing Cards

Playing cards with an educational and instructive purpose first trended in mid-17th century France, inspiring imitations on a growing number of topics such as Arithmetic, Fortification and Military Science, Geometry, Grammar, Heraldry, Cartography, Biographies, Mythology, History, Political Satire, and so on.

J. Deluy  c.1490s

J. Deluy c.1490s

Archaic Spanish-suited cards produced by J. Deluy c.1490s.

Jacques Branger designs for Miro Company

Jacques Branger designs for Miro Company

Luxury packs published by Miro Company (Paris) featuring designs by Jacques Branger, c.1940s.

Jean Noblet Tarot de Marseille

Jean Noblet Tarot de Marseille

Jean Noblet: the oldest known ‘Tarot de Marseille’ deck, Paris, c.1650.

Jeanne d’Arc, “La pucelle d’Orléans”

Jeanne d’Arc, “La pucelle d’Orléans”

Joan of Arc and her contemporaries in a colourful pack designed by Patrice Louis.

Jeanne l’Hachette

Jeanne l’Hachette

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

Jeu “Gerente”

Jeu “Gerente”

Jeu “Gerente” - published by Moncar in 1983 in the “Cartes de Fantaisie” series.

Jeu Boléro

Jeu Boléro

Sweeping, semi-abstract designs by J.L. Jolin in red and black only.

Jeu Bonaparte

Jeu Bonaparte

Jeu Bonaparte depicting the extended family of Napoleon Bonaparte, France, 1978

Jeu d'aluette by Fossorier, Amar et Cie

Jeu d'aluette by Fossorier, Amar et Cie

A very distinctive 48-card Spanish-suited pack is used to play Aluette.

Jeu D’Aluettes - Boéchat Frères c.1950

Jeu D’Aluettes - Boéchat Frères c.1950

Jeu D’Aluettes manufactured by Boéchat Frères, Bordeaux, c.1950 with archaic Spanish features mixed with the standard Catalan pattern

Jeu de 54 cartes

Jeu de 54 cartes

Jeu de 54 cartes, completely anonymous, designed to resemble locally produced French packs.