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No.14 Rouennais

Published August 14, 2012 Updated July 12, 2022

As far as is known, ‘Rouennais’ has only ever been produced as a sheet of etched court cards and aces. The designs are based on the early playing cards produced in Rouen (France) which became the antecedents of the standard English pattern.

1991 United Kingdom Gerich Karl Karl Gerich Rouennais

Karl Gerich No.14: ‘Rouennais’

As far as is known, ‘Rouennais’ has only ever been produced as a sheet of etched court cards and aces. Only three proof sheets have been taken (possibly), one of which was coloured and intended for submission to the Royal Academy open exhibition. However, the entry date was missed and the sheet was sold. The designs are supposed to be based on the early playing cards produced in Rouen (France) which became the antecedents of the standard English pattern. The pictorial Aces, of course, are Karl's own design. Here and there we can recognise motifs and ideas which are developed more fully in some of Karl's other packs.

Karl Gerich No.14: Rouennais

Above: uncoloured proof sheet of Karl Gerich's ‘Rouennais’ playing cards No.14, which was never completed. Images courtesy Barney Townshend.

References:

♣ Tregear, Mike and Daphne, "Karl Gerich: Card Designer and Maker", privately published.

Copyright:

Copyright for all images remains the property of the Artist.

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By Barney Townshend

Member since October 06, 2015

Retired Airline Pilot, interested in: Transformation Playing Cards, Karl Gerich and Elaine Lewis. Secretary of the EPCS. Treasurer of the IPCS.


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