Jeu du Musée de la Compagnie des Indes
Paintings and treasured objects from the Indies, on display in a museum in Port-Louis.
“Compagnie des Indes” is a generic name for any company which was based in a European country and which traded with one of that country’s colonies. In the case of France, that meant companies trading principally with Africa, India and China. In this pack, the Compagnie des Indes itself and its founders are represented on the spades suit, trade with China is the subject of the suit of diamonds, trade with Africa is shown on the clubs suit, while statuettes from India can be found on the hearts suit. The arms of the East Indies Company are on the red Joker, with the arms of the western equivalent on the black Joker. The latter version was adopted by the overall company, the Compagnie des Indes, from 1719, the year it was founded by the Scot, John Law. See the leaflet
Spades - the founders
Diamonds - trade with China
Clubs - trade with Africa
Hearts - statuettes from India
Above: Jeu du Musée de la Compagnie des Indes printed by Héron for Ed. Le Diouris, Vannes, France. Published by the Musée de la Compagnie des Indes, Port-Louis, France, c1988. 52 cards + 2 Jokers + 1 extra card + leaflet in French, in tuck box. Size: 63 x 88 mm.
See the box
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.
Activity for Jeu du Musée de la Compagnie des Indes
Sign in to comment or save this article.
Related Articles
Chambord
A Renaissance-style pack with ornate court cards and gilded corners.
Jeu Roman
The splendour of early medieval France, courtesy of Éditions Dusserre.
Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry
Journey through medieval life with the exquisite illuminations of the Very Rich Hours of the Duke of...
Sannois dans les étoiles
Celebrities and buildings associated with Sannois, a commune in the suburbs of Paris.
Le Globe Céleste
Views and plans of five international exhibitions held in Paris between 1855 and 1900.
Redrawn French pattern (Héron)
Redrawn French pattern retaining traditional elements.
Cartes à Jouer Fluorescentes
Standard French cards but printed with fluorescent inks on a black background.
MISSCŒUR
Elongated cards from France with a fourth court card, a Miss.
Jeu de cartes des Opéras romantiques
Costumes from four operas premiered at the Paris Opera between 1830 and 1840.
Révolution 1789-1989
Révolution 1789-1989, celebrating the bicentenary of the French revolution, France, 1989
CNES playing cards
Fully pictorial pack featuring rockets, satellites, scientists and views from space.
El Desnudo en el Arte
The Nude in Art / El Desnudo en el Arte, Spain, 1977 (reprint 1990)
Jeu des Chats
Eighteen different cat breeds drawn by Marie-France Gary.
Treasures of the Russian Museum
Treasures of the Russian Museum / Russkii Muzei : suvenirnye igral’nye karty.
Héron French tarot
French edition of the ‘Bourgeois’ Tarot by Héron.
Cartes à Jouer Espagnoles
Cartes à Jouer Espagnoles Héron - Catalan pattern.
Johnnie Walker Whisky
Johnnie Walker Whisky playing cards by Héron.
Legendary Harley-Davidson
Legendary Harley-Davidson Playing Cards, c.1995.
Cartes à Jouer Héron
Promotional decks by Héron.
Kellogg’s Complete Breakfast Game
Kellogg’s Complete Breakfast card game, ©1997.
Most Popular
Our top articles from the past 60 days
