Tarot – Images du Pays Basque
Seventy-eight photographic images of the French Basque Country on a pack for playing the game of Tarot.
Although packs for playing the French game of Tarot have been issued previously with scenic views on the trumps, this one differs in having a different photographic image on each one of the 78 cards. The photos (taken by S. Cazenave, P. Courault, H. Marcou and P. Poux) are of tourist sites in the French Basque country including Bayonne, Biarritz, Espelette, Hendaye and Saint-Jean-de-Luz. The single-ended views are named except on the trump cards. On these, the Basque symbol (the lauburu) appears at each end. The back design is formed of multiple lauburus in the Basque colours of red, green and white. See the box




Above: Tarot Images du Pays Basque published by Editions d’Art Jack, Louannec, France, c2024. Made in France. 78 cards + 2 extra cards + leaflet with rules in French, in tuck box. Size: 60 x 113 mm. Purchased in Saint-Jean-de-Luz, May 2024.

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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