S.S. France playing cards
A special non-standard pack of playing cards was designed by M. Marie for the maiden voyage of the transatlantic liner S.S. France in 1962.
S.S. France maiden voyage playing cards
produced by B. P. Grimaud, 1962
A special non-standard pack of playing cards was designed by M. Marie for the maiden voyage of the transatlantic liner S.S. France in 1962. The four Aces depict previous ships named “France” and the court cards show typical crew and passengers from the respective eras; note that these are different at each end! The colours of the tricolour French flag predominate in the designs. The S.S. France, the longest Atlantic liner at 1035ft, entered service in 1962 and was CGT's last flagship, succeeding the great Normandie and Ile de France. She was withdrawn in 1974 on the removal of government subsidies and laid up at Le Havre until 1979, when she was bought by Norwegian Cruise Line and renamed Norway. See the Box►
Above: S.S. France playing cards published by B. P. Grimaud, 1962. The 2 Jokers depict 20th century cabin boys of the French Line. The ship was owned by Compagnie Generale Transatlantique (CGT) known as “The French Line” in English-speaking countries. For further reading see: Cooper, Michael, “A Pack by Grimaud for the Liner France”, in The Playing-Card, Journal of the International Playing-Card Society, Vol.34 No.2, Oct-Dec 2005, pp.137-139.
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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