Cartavi
Promotional pack for AVI paints, with 54 different colours on the backs.
Have you ever wanted to try out a new paint colour but not wanted to use actual paint? Well, here’s the answer! Take a pack of cards like this one where every back represents a different colour and make your choice. The principal colours are on the backs of the (Paris pattern) courts, with more subtle shades on the backs of the pip cards. AVInyl shades with warm tones are on the red suits, while shades with colder tones are on the black suits. Each of the colours has a matt finish. As is usual with French advertising packs (especially of the 1950s to the 1970s), there is a blank space on one side of the box where the name of a local supplier could be inserted, in this case a hardware business in Mortagne in the Orne department in Normandy. See the box►
The back colours correspond with the faces shown immediately above.
Above: ‘Cartavi’ promotional pack for AVI paints, with 54 different colours on the backs. Maker unknown, c1970. 52 cards + 2 Jokers in tuck box. Size: 55 x 85 mm.
What did we do before Pantone colour charts? Here's one answer! Here is another►
By Roddy Somerville
Member since May 31, 2022
Roddy started collecting stamps on his 8th birthday. In 1977 he joined the newly formed playing-card department at Stanley Gibbons in London before setting up his own business in Edinburgh four years later. His collecting interests include playing cards, postcards, stamps (especially playing cards on stamps) and sugar wrappers. He is a Past President of the Scottish Philatelic Society, a former Chairman of the IPCS, a Past Master of the Worshipful Company of Makers of Playing Cards and Curator of the WCMPC’s collection of playing cards. He lives near Toulouse in France.
Related Articles
Tarot Actuel 1984
Major arcana to cut out, issued with the French magazine Actuel, using photographic images.
Fredericks & Mae playing cards
A rainbow pack from the design team of Fredericks & Mae and Benjamin English.
Spanish pattern by Eugène Boisse
Spanish pattern published by Eugène Boisse, Bordeaux.
Catalan pattern by B.P Grimaud
Standard Spanish Catalan pattern deck made in Paris by B.P Grimaud.
Cartes politiques : Jeu d'actualité
Political playing cards published by Grimaud et Chartier, Paris, 1872.
Le Poker Politique
French politicians and various world leaders caricatured by the German artist Bubec.
Swiss playing cards by Iehan Hemau
17th century Swiss-suited playing cards by Iehan Hemau of Épinal.
Leadmill playing cards
Promotional pack for an arts centre in Sheffield with designs by Martin F. Bedford.
SCOR playing cards
Bizarre and fantastical images by the artist Roland Topor for the SCOR reinsurance company.
Archaic Franco-Spanish pattern
Archaic Franco-Spanish pattern by Guillaume & Jean Grossard (Bordeaux).
Simpson (Piccadilly) playing cards
Innovative advertising pack for Simpsons of Piccadilly designed by André François.
Les Jeux de Pastor
Striking designs by Edouard Pastor focusing on the heads of figures from the medieval period.
Le Jeu des Personnages de l’Antiquité et du Moyen-Age
Edouard Pastor’s designs in black and gold inspired by Antiquity and the Middle Ages.
Rouen Pattern - Portrait Rouennais
An attractive XV century French-suited design from Rouen became the standard English & Anglo-America...
Archaic Spanish proof sheets
2 x uncoloured proof sheets of archaic Spanish-suited playing cards produced for “New Spain”, possib...
Hamlet Cigars
Advertising deck for “Hamlet mild cigars”, a Benson & Hedges product.
Trending Articles
Popular articles from the past 28 days
