Les Grands Ecrivains
‘Les Grands Ecrivains’ produced for members of “Le Grand Livre du Mois”, France, c. 1970.
This pack was produced by Brepols and Carta Mundi exclusively for members of “Le Grand Livre du Mois”. This is a French book club created in 1950 in its initial version by Claude Tchou , who ran it until 1958, under the title "Club du livre du mois". The current formula under the name Le Grand Livre du Mois has existed since 1977. It is the only French literary news club offering 700 new titles each year, as soon as they appear in bookstores.
The aces feature residences formerly occupied by La Fontaine (clubs), Victor Hugo (hearts), Voltaire (spades) and Balzac (diamonds). The court cards depict 12 major French novelists, illustrated by J.P. Djivanides. There are 2 jokers and two additional cards: a bridge scoring card and a card announcing the pack referencing both Brepols Paris and Carta Mundi, which suggests the cards were made c.1970 at or about the time Carta Mundi was formed as a joint venture of Biermans, Brepols and Van Genechten.
Above: ‘Les Grands Ecrivains’ produced for members of “Le Grand Livre du Mois”, France, c. 1970. Here is an alternative back design found on this pack.
By Peter Burnett
United Kingdom • Member since July 27, 2022 • Contact
I graduated in Russian and East European Studies from Birmingham University in 1969. It was as an undergraduate in Moscow in 1968 that I stumbled upon my first 3 packs of “unusual” playing cards which fired my curiosity and thence my life-long interest. I began researching and collecting cards in the early 1970s, since when I’ve acquired over 3,330 packs of non-standard cards, mainly from North America, UK and Western Europe, and of course from Russia and the former communist countries.
Following my retirement from the Bodleian Library in Dec. 2007 I took up a new role as Head of Library Development at the International Network for the Availability of Scientific Publications (INASP) to support library development in low-income countries. This work necessitated regular training visits to many sub-Saharan African countries and also further afield, to Vietnam, Nepal and Bangladesh – all of which provided rich opportunities to further expand my playing card collection.
Since 2019 I’ve been working part-time in the Bodleian Library where I’ve been cataloguing the bequest of the late Donald Welsh, founder of the English Playing Card Society.
Related Articles
Hamlet Cigars
Advertising deck for “Hamlet mild cigars”, a Benson & Hedges product.
The Art of Erté
Luxury playing cards displaying artwork by Erté, published in 1983 by Sobranie of London.
British Monarchs
Commemorating the royal wedding of Charles, Prince of Wales to Lady Diana Spencer on the 29th
Jeu de la Belle Epoque
Jeu de la Belle Epoque, remembering a golden age of optimism, progress and elegance.
Jeu Gothique
‘Jeu Gothique’ illustrating the Gothic period in France, published by Editions Dusserre.
B-Deck
“B-Deck” scurrilous playing cards poking fun at a former UK prime minister.
Les métiers et leurs protecteurs
“Les métiers et leurs protecteurs” playing cards published by Editions Dusserre, c. 1995.
Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte
Famous people associated with Nicolas Fouquet’s splendid château of Vaux-le-Vicomte.
Dorset Dialect Trails
‘Dorset Dialect Trails’ playing cards, United Kingdom, 2015.
Het Nest Brouwerij
Het Nest Brouwerij playing cards from Turnhout, Belgium.
Baudelaire playing card collection
Baudelaire playing card collection illustrated by Alméry Lobel-Riche and published by Lo Scarabeo in...
Margaret Parrott playing cards
Margaret Parrott playing cards decorated with whimsical parrots, USA, c. 1997.
Scientific American
‘Scientific American’ playing cards depicting 19th century illustrations of inventions.
Packs of Prizes
‘Packs of Prizes’ playing cards advertising Neosorexa pest control products.
Harold Samuel Collection playing cards
The Harold Samuel Collection of Dutch and Flemish seventeenth-century artworks, United Kingdom, 2012...
Agatha Christie Playing Cards
Agatha Christie playing cards produced by Planet Three Collection, United Kingdom, c. 2004.
Library Lovers
Library Lovers playing cards published by Word Nerd Games, 2016.
Sixty Penguin Years Playing Cards
In celebration of 60 years of publishing Penguin Books Ltd, 1995.
Dickens Character Collection
Dickens Character Collection published for a London Casino as a promotional gift.
Dead Souls
Dead Souls, or “Mertvye dushi igral’nye karty” produced in 2006 by Aleksei Orleanskii.
Most Popular
Our top articles from the past 60 days
