English Pattern by B.P. Grimaud

This standard, double-ended English pattern published by B.P. Grimaud in c.1880 is from the collection of Bibliothèque nationale de France. The name of the engraver, F. Simon, can be found at the bottom of the rather elaborate ace of spades, the joker and the wrapper which also feature exhibition medals achieved between 1870-1880. Four small corner indices have been added to the 52 cards (but not the joker).

By the late 1870s several innovative types of corner indices came into common use on English and American cards, designed to help players hold their cards in a fan and only peek at the corners. Miniature indexes can also be seen on these French ones, where previously there had been none. Many of these new indexes were patented, e.g. Dexter, Eurekas, Indicators, Triplicates, etc.  learn more →

We may notice that the ace of spades and the Gold Medal Joker have a passing resemblance to those issued in c.1880 by the New York Consolidated Card Co and subsequently used in their "Squeezers" decks. Manufacturers were evidently watching each other and in some instances agents were sent over to spy on competitors' technical innovations. These Grimaud court cards are clearly inspired by the unturned, double-ended designs of De la Rue from the 1870s, around the same time as rounded corners and two-way pips were being introduced on numeral cards. This French example has one-way pip cards and rounded corners.

Above: standard English pattern by B.P. Grimaud, engraved by F. Simon, c.1880. 52 cards + the joker; courts outlined in blue. The back is pale lilac with a dainty bouguet of flowers in blue. Source gallica.bnf.fr / Bibliothèque nationale de France • Jeu de cartes au portrait anglais à deux têtes►

In the late 19th century, several innovations in playing card design emerged almost simultaneously across different countries, a result of increased globalization, improved communication, industrialization, market demands and the ease of adapting successful ideas across borders. These factors combined to create a global environment where innovations in one region could quickly influence and be adopted by manufacturers in other regions.

References

• Bibliothèque nationale de France: Jeu de cartes au portrait anglais à deux têtes►

• Bibliothèque nationale de France: Jeu de cartes au portrait anglais►

• Ken Lodge's Blog: De La Rue in detail►

• Ken Lodge's Blog: Functional Changes to Playing Cards►