Simpson (Piccadilly) playing cards

Published September 20, 2024 Updated September 20, 2024

Innovative advertising pack for Simpsons of Piccadilly designed by André François.

1953 United Kingdom De la Rue André François Advertising

When these cards were issued in 1953 (just 8 years after the end of World War II), André François’ designs must have seemed as bold and innovative as the building in Piccadilly housing the business they were advertising. Within white borders where the indices are placed are solid areas of red or black, against which the pips are picked out in white. The Kings are hobby-horses, the Queens hold hand-mirrors, while the Jacks play stringed instruments. The (double-ended) Joker is a jester on a quartered red and blue ground. The Ace of Spades shows the statue of Eros in Piccadilly Circus by night. According to John Berry’s description, a double-ended sketch of the Theatre Royal, Haymarket, seen from St James’ Square, adorns the backs. The cards have yellow edges. They are often to be found slightly bowed.

André François (1915-2005) was a Hungarian-born French artist and cartoonist who notably worked in the atelier of Adolphe Cassandre (1901-1968), creator of a famous pack for Hermès

Simpson (Piccadilly) playing cards designed by André François and made by Thomas De La Rue, London, UK, 1953 Simpson (Piccadilly) playing cards designed by André François and made by Thomas De La Rue, London, UK, 1953 Simpson (Piccadilly) playing cards designed by André François and made by Thomas De La Rue, London, UK, 1953

Above: Simpson (Piccadilly) playing cards designed by André François and made by Thomas De La Rue, London, UK, 1953. 2 x 52 cards + 2 (identical) Jokers + 1 title card, in slender black box with hinged lid. Size: 58 x 89 mm.

See the box

The Simpson building in Piccadilly was designed by Joseph Pemberton and opened in 1936. It was then the largest menswear store in Great Britain. Its distinctive non-reflecting concave windows at street level were the first in the country at that time. They have been retained by the current owners, Waterstones, the bookstore chain, as part of what is now their flagship store.

References

Berry, John. The Waddington Playing-card Collection, Part 1, W80.

Fournier Museum Catalogue, Volume I, British Isles 466.

avatar
583 Articles

By Roddy Somerville

Member since May 31, 2022

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.

Related Articles

1992 Disney’s Aladdin playing cards

Disney’s Aladdin playing cards

Characters from the 1992 Disney film Aladdin.

2011 2011 Worshipful Company Pack

2011 Worshipful Company Pack

Celebrating the bicentenary of the birth of Charles Dickens, with characters adapted from drawings b...

1975 More Menthol Filter Cigarettes

More Menthol Filter Cigarettes

Elongated cards with designs by Wong Yui Man advertising More cigarettes.

1926 Jockey Club de Buenos Aires

Jockey Club de Buenos Aires

Spanish-suited pack by Chas Goodall & Son Ltd for the Jockey Club, Buenos Aires.

New interest in old games

New interest in old games

Games once fashionable are now eclipsed by quicker gratifications.

1999 Polygo™

Polygo™

Cards of irregular, four-sided shape for playing word and colour games as well as more traditional o...

1995 Treasures from the Bodleian Library

Treasures from the Bodleian Library

Rare books, manuscripts, music scores, portraits, maps, gospels, chronicles and other valuable artef...

1863 Victorian grocer’s scale plate

Victorian grocer’s scale plate

Large flat plate decorated with highly coloured English cards and royal arms.

2024 Queen of Arts

Queen of Arts

A wide variety of women artists celebrated on cards with illustrations by Laura Callaghan.

1990 The Glasgow Pack

The Glasgow Pack

Issued to celebrate Glasgow’s reign as European City of Culture in 1990, with city views and works o...

2018 Cathedrals, Abbeys & Minsters playing cards

Cathedrals, Abbeys & Minsters playing cards

54 pictures of different famous cathedrals, abbeys and minsters in England and Wales.

2018 Christmas Carols

Christmas Carols

Christmas Carols playing cards illustrated by Stuart Dilks

1798 Pam is the Knave of Clubs

Pam is the Knave of Clubs

Playing cards as metaphors in 18th century art - from fate, chance and social hierarchy t...

1920 Question and Answer Games

Question and Answer Games

A card game called “Impertinent Questions and Pertinent Answers” was launched in the early 1920s by ...

1711 Dr Sacheverell

Dr Sacheverell

Dr. Henry Sacheverell's impeachment in 1710 sparked widespread public unrest and political upheaval,...

1990 Leadmill playing cards

Leadmill playing cards

Promotional pack for an arts centre in Sheffield with designs by Martin F. Bedford.