OROCCO
&
LGERIA
The earliest literary references to playing cards in Europe refer to the game having been introduced by a 'Saracen', and also to Moorish and Damascene varieties of playing card. We do not know for sure what these fourteenth century cards looked like... but for an idea click here.
In the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, however, playing cards were imported into Morocco and Algeria by Camoin of Marseille (1760-1971) and Grimaud of Paris. These were of the Spanish National pattern, based on the Félix Solesio designs produced by the Real Fábrica de Madrid at Macharaviaya (1776-1815). It might be logical to assume that North Africans had always played with Spanish suited cards, and that these came from France or Spain. Similar designs appeared earlier under the names of Tourcaty and Jacques Sellon of Marseille, and have also been produced until recently by La Ducale, B.P. Grimaud and others.
The Camoin firm closed down in 1971, but many clones of Camoin's cards have been, and still are being produced by a succession of Moroccan manufacturers, usually from Casablanca. These include:
Malka Frères
Imprimerie Royale
Imprimerie de L'Entente
Imprimerie Litho-Type Marocaine
Maroc Cartes
...and other anonymous brands such as Cartes Lion, L'Elephant, L'Aigle or Sindibad. Morocco is now one of the last remaining countries to use the old Spanish National pattern.
What is noticeable about all these imitations is that, with one or two exceptions, they are all virtually identical, showing a strong adherence to tradition. Apart from a gradual simplification in the outlines, the main change has been the disappearance of the tethered goat in the background of the Sota (Jack) of coins in some of the lowest grade examples. With the modernisation of Morocco, perhaps traditions will loosen further...
