France Royale Bridge

“France Royale” Bridge No.2142, Piatnik 1975   Piatnik website→

Piatnik’s elegant and refined “France Royale” Bridge playing cards designed by Willy Mayrl depict named historical characters from France’s royal past, including Luis 14th, Richelieu, Marie de Medici, Talleyrand, Marie-Antoinette, Anna D’Autriche, François I, Marguerite de Navarra, Louis XIV, Henry IV, Louis XVI and others. The four decorative aces and joker reinforce the historical style.

Above: “France Royale” Bridge No.2142 playing cards, Piatnik 1975. 52 cards + 3 Jokers in luxury box. Fleurs de Lis on the backs. Normally, the code numbers are under the company legend on the ace of hearts, but in these France Royale packs its on the ace of diamonds. Images courtesy Matt Probert.

By Matt Probert

Member since March 02, 2012

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I have adored playing cards since before I was seven years old, and was brought up on packs of Waddington's No 1. As a child I was fascinated by the pictures of the court cards.

Over the next fifty years I was seduced by the artwork in Piatnik's packs and became a collector of playing cards.

Seeking more information about various unidentified packs I discovered the World of Playing Cards website and became an enthusiastic contributor researching and documenting different packs of cards.

I describe my self as a playing card archaeologist, using detective work to identify and date obscure packs of cards discovered in old houses, flea markets and car boot sales.