Jeu de cartes Armelle
Advertising pack designed by James Hodges for a company specialising in regional cakes and biscuits.
Armelle was a company specialising in the production of regional cakes and biscuits. Their name appears on all 12 of the double-ended court cards which feature figures in national or regional costume holding one of the company’s products. The designs are by James Hodges (1928-2019), in his unmistakable style. The Jokers show a pastry chef; the Aces and numeral cards are plain. The company logo appears on the Jokers, the extra card, the backs and the box►
Above: Jeu de cartes Armelle made by Maîtres Cartiers Boéchat Frères, Bordeaux, for Editions J.C. Dusserre, Paris, France, 1983. 52 cards + 2 Jokers + 1 extra card in tuck box. Size: 57.5 x 87 mm.
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.
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