Les 7 Familles Pyrénées
Mountains, flowers, animals, tourist sites of the Pyrenees, all drawn by the artist Pertuzé.
Forming the border between France and Spain, the Pyrenees have much to offer the visitor – unusual flowers and animals, castles and cathedrals, snowy peaks and myths galore. These were the inspiration for Pertuzé’s designs in this traditional card game. Each set of 6 cards is identified by a different symbol and a different colour. A short caption in French describes each image. The artist, Jean-Claude Pertuzé (1949-2020), was a graphic designer, illustrator and author of comic books. His main interests were the traditions and history of Gascony and the Pyrenees. His images deliver a clear message in a straightforward and informative way. See the box►


Above: Les 7 Familles Pyrénées printed by Vigno, Marseille, for Editions Loubatières, Portet, France, c1995. 42 cards + 2 extra cards in tuck box. Size: 63 x 88 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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