France Royale Bridge
“France Royale” Bridge playing cards by Willy Mayrl depict historical characters from France’s royal past.
“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 Louis XIV, 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 production 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
United Kingdom • Member since March 02, 2012
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.
Activity for France Royale Bridge
Sign in to comment or save this article.
Related Articles
Arik Brauer
An artist-led pack from Vienna’s Hilger Edition, with Arik Brauer’s fantasy imagery turned into card...
Black Peter
Two Black Peter games by Willy Mayrl published by Ferd Piatnik & Söhne, 1950s.
Black Peter
Black Peter card game designed by Willy Mayrl for Piatnik.
Baby Dolls
Baby Dolls pin-up deck designed by Willy Mayrl, published by Piatnik, 1957.
Mary Queen of Scots
Mary Queen of Scots and other Tudor period dignitaries, published by Piatnik, 1990.
Cosmopolitan № 2121 playing cards
“Cosmopolitan” № 2121 playing cards designed by Russian artist Valeri Mishin, 1996
Piatnik No.97
Non-standard French-suited cards published by Ferd Piatnik & Sõhne, Vienna, c.1940s.
Kaiser Jubiläum
Kaiser Jubiläum Imperial playing cards made in Austria by Ferd Piatnik & Sons, Vienna.
Baroque No.2118
“Baroque” by Ferd Piatnik & Sons, Vienna, reflecting a bygone era of fashion.
48: Ferdinand Piatnik & Sons
Ferd. Piatnik produced a very large range of cards with many different standard and non-standard pat...
Rococo No. 2130
Piatnik: Rococo No. 2130 playing cards designed by Prof. Kuno Hock, c.1975
Blue Playing Cards
“Blue Playing Cards” by Piatnik, 1960s, inspired by the Cubism art movement in which objects are ana...
Shakespeare by Piatnik
‘Shakespeare’ playing cards by Piatnik designed by the British actor Donald Burton.
Tops and Tails
‘Sports Tops and Tails’ No.290 manufactured by Ferd Piatnik & Sons, Vienna, c.1950s.
Vienna Melange
“Vienna Melange” Playing Cards by Piatnik with a historical feel representing the four races that ma...
Karl Korab (Ed. Hilger)
Karl Korab was born in 1937 in Falkenstein (Lower Austria), the son of a forester. As a child he exp...
Waisenfond
Intended to attract donations on behalf of the Imperial Royal Austrian Military Widows’ and Orphans’...
Cashmere
Bernhard Altmann is from the “The House of Cashmere” and these playing cards honour their best known...
Ferd. Piatnik & Söhne
Ferdinand Piatnik was born in Ofen on October 14, 1819.
The History of Playing Cards
Playing cards appear in European records in the late 14th century, but their earlier history lies fu...
Most Popular
Our top articles from the past 60 days
