Compagnie Industrielle des Téléphones
Publicity pack featuring various historical figures “on the ‘phone”.
The Compagnie Industrielle des Téléphones was formed in 1946. This pack probably came into being not long after that. The named historical figures on the double-ended court cards are all depicted – somewhat incongruously – on the telephone! A telephone dial is featured in the centre of the Ace of Clubs, with a red and white label attached to it with the initials “CIT” (for Compagnie Industrielle des Téléphones). The company later became part of the Alcatel Group. Strangely, the indices are of different sizes – smaller on the court cards and larger on the pip cards and Aces. What could be the designer’s name appears under the right foot of the Joker but it is too small to decipher. The cards have a glossy finish.
Above: publicity pack for Compagnie Industrielle des Téléphones, maker unknown, France, c1950. 52 cards + 1 Joker (probably originally 2) + 1 blank card. Size: 56 x 87 mm.
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.
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