Playing Card Patterns
‘501’ playing cards by Alf Cooke
“Five 'o One” playing cards, a version of the Dondorf Rhineland pattern, manufactured by Universal Playing Card Co. Ltd for export to Scandinavia.

19: 19th Century Breaks With Tradition - Unusual Versions of the Standard English Pattern
The centuries-long tradition of English court cards was subject to misinterpretation and in some cases a desire for individuality. Here are some examples of breaks with that tradition.

61: French regional patterns: the kings
On page 11 I illustrated several examples of the regional French patterns from Sylvia Mann's collection; this is a more in-depth look at the figures of these patterns ("portraits" in French).

62: French regional patterns: the queens and jacks
Continuing our look at the figures from the regional patterns of France.

63: The descendants of the French regional patterns: 1
A great many regional patterns were exported from France and subsequently copied elsewhere. Some of them became local standards in their own right.

64: The descendants of the French regional patterns: 2
A continuation of the development of the off-spring of the Paris patterns and a few examples of how the French regional figures have inspired modern designers.

A. Camoin & Cie, Casablanca & Marseille
Spanish national pattern by A. Camoin & Cie, Casablanca & Marseille

AGMüller English Pattern
AGMüller standard English pattern for the Royal Jordanian Airline, 1980s

Bavarian Pattern
Bavarian single-ended pattern by Vereinigte Altenburg-Stralsunder Spielkarten-Fabriken A-G., c.1937

Benoist Laius
Spanish playing cards such as these were used in those parts of France where certain games were enjoyed, such as Aluette.

Bergamasche Pattern
Bergamasche Pattern by Modiano, 1970s.

Bohemian Pattern
The Bohemian Pattern, sometimes called the Prager Pattern, has roots in the 16th century.

Brepols Genoese pattern
“Cartes Françaises” and Genoese pattern by Brepols.

Brescia pattern
The Brescia pattern contains elements which come from a past age.

Carte Romane
“Carte Romane” designed by Giorgio Pessione, 1973, celebrating the history of Rome.

Cartes Catalanes
Cartes Catalanes are used in a small area in the Eastern Pyrenées region of Southern France.

Dal Negro Bridge set
Dal Negro Bridge set featuring old Vienna pattern courts.

Dauphiné Pattern
The Dauphiné pattern is an archaic French pattern which was manufactured in the Lyons region from the 17th century.

Dutch Pattern for Van Perlstein
Brepols Dutch Pattern for Van Perlstein distillery, c.1960.

Dvouhlavé Hrací Karty
“Dvouhlavé Hrací Karty” (Czech Seasons playing cards) made by Obchodní Tiskárny, c.1980.

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