Genoese pattern
The design is purely 'Parisian' but the colouring is green, red, yellow and black. Belgium has taken this pattern for general use.
Purely 'Parisian' pattern in design, but the colouring is green, red, yellow and black. 40 or 52 cards. The pack is basically an export pattern from post-1827 France. Belgium has taken this pattern for general use and it is commonly found in many other parts of the world. For some reason the Jack of Clubs often bears a Spanish arms. It is distinguished from the Piedmont pattern by the diagonal division of the double-ended courts.
Above: Standard double-ended Genoese pattern cards from an uncut sheet manufactured by B. P. Grimaud, c.1920. Unlike the closely related 'Paris' pattern, the court cards are unnamed.
Below: Standard Genoese pattern playing cards, with French indices, manufactured by Van Genechten for Cigarrillo Holiday and the Estanco de Naipes del Perú, c.1965. The legend "Estanco de Naipes del Perú" is printed on the box and reverse of the cards in the centre of the advert for Holiday cigarettes.
See also: Naipes Side-Car Genoese type manufactured by Luis Fourvel, Buenos Aires, Argentina, c.1940 • Genoese Pattern by E. Pignalosa, Naples, c.1950.
By Simon Wintle
Member since February 01, 1996
I am the founder of The World of Playing Cards (est. 1996), a website dedicated to the history, artistry and cultural significance of playing cards and tarot. Over the years I have researched various areas of the subject, acquired and traded collections and contributed as a committee member of the IPCS and graphics editor of The Playing-Card journal. Having lived in Chile, England, Wales, and now Spain, these experiences have shaped my work and passion for playing cards. Amongst my achievements is producing a limited-edition replica of a 17th-century English pack using woodblocks and stencils—a labour of love. Today, the World of Playing Cards is a global collaborative project, with my son Adam serving as the technical driving force behind its development. His innovative efforts have helped shape the site into the thriving hub it is today. You are warmly invited to become a contributor and share your enthusiasm.
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