English pattern by JRC Industries
A standard pack from South Africa using Piatnik courts with minor modifications.
Looking at this pack with English (or international) courts, it is immediately obvious that Piatnik courts and Jokers have been quite blatantly copied. There are some minor modifications to the details on the clothing but the faces are almost identical, albeit with more use of red and orange.
The photograph of the lion on the reverse is credited to Carien Marais, while Brander Kemp Graphics of Pietermaritzburg are credited with the artwork. The back design of a lion is one of at least four in the African Wilderness series: the others depict a buffalo, a leopard or a wild dog.
Above: standard English deck designed and produced by Observer Printing & JRC Industries, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, c2000. 52 cards + 3 Jokers in tuck box. Size: 62 x 87 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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