Promo-Québec
Fun designs by Normand Hudon promoting the Canadian province of Quebec.
Normand Hudon (1929-1997) was a political cartoonist who contributed work to several Quebec newspapers. His humour spills over into the designs of these cards. Each King holds a hand (or glove?) on a stick rather than one of the more conventional attributes. The main colours used for the court cards tie in with the suits on which they appear, e.g., the red-suit Jacks have red outfits while the black-suit Jacks have black outfits. The pips are arranged haphazardly. The borderless back design consists of a boldly drawn fleur-de-lis (taken from the flag of Quebec) in white against a blue (or reddish brown) background. See the box►
Above: ‘Promo-Québec’ playing cards published by Friedland, Paris, France, for Promo-Québec, Montréal, Canada, 1973. Printed by Carta Mundi, Turnhout, Belgium. 52 cards + 1 Joker + 1 “La Blanche” card + 1 extra card in tuck box. Size: 56 x 87 mm.
By Roddy Somerville
France • Member since May 31, 2022 • Contact
Roddy started collecting stamps on his 8th birthday. In 1977 he joined the newly formed playing-card department at Stanley Gibbons in London before setting up his own business in Edinburgh four years later. His collecting interests include playing cards, postcards, stamps (especially playing cards on stamps) and sugar wrappers. He is a Past President of the Scottish Philatelic Society, a former Chairman of the IPCS, a Past Master of the Worshipful Company of Makers of Playing Cards and Curator of the WCMPC’s collection of playing cards. He lives near Toulouse in France.
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