Algeria
Spanish suited playing cards produced by B. P. Grimaud (Paris) for Algeria, around 1910.
Spanish suited playing cards produced by B. P. Grimaud (Paris) for Algeria, around 1910.
Algeria is a gateway between Africa and Europe. A version of the old Spanish National pattern was produced by Jacques Sellon of Marseille and Fossorier, Amar & Cie of Paris for North African countries (Algeria & Morocco). Cards were also made by Camoin (Marseille), Malka Frères (Casablanca) and other anonymous manufacturers for export to Algeria. These were usually distinguished by a preponderance of green and a repeating pattern of stars and crescents on the backs. The tax stamp can be seen on the two of swords.
Naypes Finos - 40 cards in wrapper

Above: Spanish suited playing cards produced by B. P. Grimaud (Paris) for Algeria, around 1910. The cards have square corners and small indices. Image courtesy Juan José Pérez-Castejón.


By Simon Wintle
Member since February 01, 1996
Founder and editor of the World of Playing Cards since 1996. He is a former committee member of the IPCS and was graphics editor of The Playing-Card journal for many years. He has lived at various times in Chile, England and Wales and is currently living in Extremadura, Spain. Simon's first limited edition pack of playing cards was a replica of a seventeenth century traditional English pack, which he produced from woodblocks and stencils.
Related Articles

La Réussite (Sébastien Féraut)
Sébastien Féraut’s designs inspired by the animal kingdom for a set promoting patience games.

Le Tarot de Sète
Reinterpretation of the Tarot de Marseille by Julien Labat, an artist from Sète.

Oracle Rock
Cartomantic set depicting rock and pop stars, designed by La Rata, with a book by Virginie Despentes...

Jeu Numismatique
European coins of all periods replace the traditional courts and pips.

Jeu Philatélique
Cards with French postage stamps featuring famous literary figures.

Tarot Philatélique
Tarot game pack with French postage stamps on all the courts, aces and trumps.

Jeu Philatélique – Les Colonies Françaises
Philatelic card game featuring real postage stamps from the French colonies.

Tarot Actuel 1984
Major arcana to cut out, issued with the French magazine Actuel, using photographic images.

Spanish pattern by Eugène Boisse
Spanish pattern published by Eugène Boisse, Bordeaux.

Catalan pattern by B.P Grimaud
Standard Spanish Catalan pattern deck made in Paris by B.P Grimaud.

Cartes politiques : Jeu d'actualité
Political playing cards published by Grimaud et Chartier, Paris, 1872.

Le Poker Politique
French politicians and various world leaders caricatured by the German artist Bubec.

Swiss playing cards by Iehan Hemau
17th century Swiss-suited playing cards by Iehan Hemau of Épinal.

SCOR playing cards
Bizarre and fantastical images by the artist Roland Topor for the SCOR reinsurance company.

Archaic Franco-Spanish pattern
Archaic Franco-Spanish pattern by Guillaume & Jean Grossard (Bordeaux).

Les Jeux de Pastor
Striking designs by Edouard Pastor focusing on the heads of figures from the medieval period.
Most Popular
Our top articles from the past 28 days