Four Roses Bourbon Whiskey
Promotional playing cards for a brand of Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey.
Trappers, pioneers, cowboys, Indians and military figures adorn this pack promoting Four Roses Bourbon, a brand of American whiskey from Kentucky. There is a certain unity of colour within each suit. The indices on the diagonally divided double-ended court cards are in French. Uncle Sam is featured on the Jokers. This attractive pack was offered as a free gift with bottles of the product sold in France. See the box►
Another edition of this pack has indices in English, “CARTA MUNDI” printed on the Ace of Spades, and three identical Uncle Sam Jokers but no extra cards with card game rules. The back design is different from the one in the pack made for the French market.
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.
The Glasgow Pack
Issued to celebrate Glasgow’s reign as European City of Culture in 1990, with city views and works o...
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.
Blake et Mortimer – La Marque Jaune
Blake and Mortimer comic strip characters created by Edgar P. Jacobs.
Archaic Franco-Spanish pattern
Archaic Franco-Spanish pattern by Guillaume & Jean Grossard (Bordeaux).
The Malt Whiskies of Scotland
Three packs featuring photographs by Duncan McEwan of malt whisky distilleries in Scotland.
Simpson (Piccadilly) playing cards
Innovative advertising pack for Simpsons of Piccadilly designed by André François.
Scruffy Mutts
‘Scruffy Mutts’ dog-themed playing cards, United Kingdom, c.1998.
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.