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Published February 03, 2015 Updated April 02, 2023

Catel & Farcy

Catel & Farcy (Paris).

France Catel & Farcy Add to Collection
unbranded French style pack by Catel & Farcy unbranded French style pack by Catel & Farcy

Above: unbranded French style pack by Catel & Farcy. The court cards are not named. Images courtesy Matt Probert.


Peugeot publicity deck by Catel & Farcy Peugeot publicity deck by Catel & Farcy

Above: Peugeot publicity deck by Catel & Farcy. Images courtesy Matt Probert.

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By Matt Probert

Member since March 02, 2012

I have adored playing cards since before I was seven years old, and was brought up on packs of Waddington's No 1. As a child I was fascinated by the pictures of the court cards.

Over the next fifty years I was seduced by the artwork in Piatnik's packs and became a collector of playing cards.

Seeking more information about various unidentified packs I discovered the World of Playing Cards website and became an enthusiastic contributor researching and documenting different packs of cards.

I describe my self as a playing card archaeologist, using detective work to identify and date obscure packs of cards discovered in old houses, flea markets and car boot sales.


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1976 Jeanne d’Arc, “La pucelle d’Orléans”

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Joan of Arc and her contemporaries in a colourful pack designed by Patrice Louis.

1988 Costumes Alsaciens

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Typical costumes and views of Alsace together with lists of the principal sights.

1981 Les “Œufs de Cartes” de Krasno

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Egg-shaped cards created by Rodolfo Krasno employing photographic images by Michel Leclerc.

1830 French Cartomancy cards, c.1830

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French Cartomancy cards published by J. Gaudais; printed by Mansion, Paris, c.1830.

1973 Le Jeu des Peintres

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Modern designs by 19 contemporary artists including Peynet and Hodges.

1990 Jeu de cartes des Opéras romantiques

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Costumes from four operas premiered at the Paris Opera between 1830 and 1840.

1983 Les Montgolfières 1783-1983

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Honouring the bicentenary of the Montgolfier brothers’ first balloon flights in 1783.

2002 Sa Majesté, le roi des jeux de cartes

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A colourful pack aimed at children, with illustrations by Muriel Kerba.

1971 Gibert Jeune

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1820 Costumes des Peuples Étrangers

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1806 Le Nouvel Etteilla

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“Le Nouvel Etteilla” cartomancy deck published in Paris by La Veuve Gueffier, 1806.

1807 Le Petit Oracle des Dames

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Le Petit Oracle des Dames ou Récréation des Curieux, Paris, 1807.

1989 Révolution 1789-1989

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1959 Scaramouche

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Scaramouche cartes à jouer with designs by Henri Favre, published by Triboulet, France.

1989 Jeu Tour de France 89 (Domex)

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1690 Auvergne Pattern

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1900 Cartes Catalanes by Fossorier, Amar et Cie

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1880 B.P. Grimaud pack for Bolivia

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1860 Fashion costume pack by O. Gibert

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1995 Les 7 Familles Pyrénées

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1996 Jeu des 7 Familles Spider-Man

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1985 Conseil Général de la Somme

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2000 Les Chemins de Saint-Jacques

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1970 La Rayonnante

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Publicity pack for a French cleaning business, with suit-signs given smiling faces.

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