Ergomia

Ergomia is a complete re-design of a traditional pack into a “Nouvelle Forme” that the publishers considered to be an ergonomically efficient shape, namely like an inverted comma. The idea was that they should be easy to hold, easy to spread and easy to shuffle, as shown on the back of the box. However, they do not appear to have been particularly popular among card players. This may be a cautionary warning regarding the pitfalls of trying to re-design the playing card. The same three court card designs are used for each suit. The company’s website address appears on the four Aces but is defunct. French indices R, D, V, 1 (four times on each card). See the box►

Above: "Ergomia" playing cards published by Système Création Pratique, Décines-Charpieu, 2000, and registered as a trademark in 2003. 52 cards + 2 Jokers + 1 (double-sided) title card/bridge score card in a tuck box. The box is the same size as for a standard pack of Bridge cards. Printed by Carta Mundi.

A Tarot pack was also issued with instructions in French, in the same shape but larger, and also an English edition with different court card designs and indices (see below).

By Roddy Somerville

Member since May 31, 2022

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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.