Au Vieux Campeur
Advertising pack for a French company selling all kinds of gear for outdoor activities.
Almost 50 years on from a pack designed by Hodges for the same company (Le Vieux Campeur), the subject matter remains much the same: hiking (C), winter sports (H), climbing (S), and water/underwater sports (D). The courts, of course, have a more modern look, including the appearance of a snowboard (JH). The words superimposed on two of the indices on the court cards (AU on the V/J, VIEUX on the D/Q and CAMPEUR on the R/K) spell out the name of the company – a messy touch which adds nothing. The company’s logo – which appears in the centre of each court card and twice on the reverse – has been updated, with the old hiker now having a flower between his teeth rather than an unfashionable pipe. Each ace is decorated with a scene appropriate to that suit within an enlarged pip. The name of the artist does not appear anywhere. See the box
Above: Au Vieux Campeur publicity playing cards published by Au Vieux Campeur, Paris, France, 2020. Made in France (France Cartes?). 52 cards + 2 (identical) Jokers + 1 bridge scoring card in tuck box. Size: 55 x 84 mm.
By Roddy Somerville
France • 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.
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