Redrawn French pattern (Héron)
Redrawn French pattern retaining traditional elements.
This was one of several redrawn versions of the French pattern by both Héron and Grimaud to appear in the late 1970s and 1980s. There is no colour in the faces of the courts, with the lines representing their hair being a particularly strong feature. The traditional names (David, Alexandre, etc.) are retained but they are more discreet than on older packs.
Above: redrawn French 'Paris' pattern playing cards published by Cartes à Jouer Héron advertising Hotel Lutétia Concorde in Paris, c.1975. 52 cards + 2 Jokers + 1 bridge score card in tuck box. Size: 57 x 87 mm.
At this time, J.C. Dusserre was styling himself as just that, without the addition of the word ‘Editions’. His name appears on the bottom end of the box. The box itself is of a rather old-fashioned type, where the name of the advertiser appears in a blank panel on one side of the box. In this instance, the advertiser is the Hotel Lutétia Concorde in Paris (now simply called Hotel Lutétia), a luxury hotel on the Left Bank opposite the department store Au Bon Marché. The attractive back design in dull orange and brown is repeated on one side of 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.
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