Le Vieux Campeur
Advertising pack designed by James Hodges for a Parisian shop selling camping equipment.
Humorous designs by the prolific artist James Hodges (1928-2019) for Le Vieux Campeur, a business in Paris specialising in the sale of camping equipment (rucksacks, tents, etc.) to young and old alike. Many different outdoor activities are represented on the court cards, which are divided diagonally. Hodges’ style is instantly recognisable, especially on the queens, with their flowing locks. Inspiration for the Joker design must have come from the logo of the business which has been used for the back design and the box►
Above: advertising pack designed by James Hodges for Le Vieux Campeur, made by B.P. Grimaud, France, c1972. 52 cards + 2 Jokers + 1 extra card in tuck box. Size: 55.5 x 84.5 mm. The box design is the same front and back.
Note: James Hodges is known to have designed at least 50 packs but apparently he himself lost count and didn't keep good records, in later years not always being able to recognise whether something was his own work - Roddy.
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.
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.
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).
Trek Deck Malta Vol. 1
Innovative pack describing 52 different treks around Malta, Gozo and Comino.
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...
English Pattern by B.P. Grimaud
Standard English pattern published by B.P. Grimaud with engraving by F. Simon, c.1880.
Jeu de Tarot (Catel & Farcy)
Colourful version of a standard French (‘Bourgeois’) Tarot.
Smith-Corona Marchant
Simplified yet colourful court card designs by Avoine for Smith-Corona Marchant.
Trending Articles
Popular articles from the past 28 days
