Figures from Romanian History

Finding old cards made for countries without a tradition of making playing cards – such as Romania – is hard. This pack, though incomplete, does at least contain all the courts and aces. Helpfully, the maker’s name “B.P. Grimaud” and “Paris” can be found, in feint lettering, on each of the double-ended court cards which depict named figures from Romanian history. The portraits appear to have been painted by an artist who had access to old paintings; however, the artist is not credited. The frames and corners are square. This is a mixed part-set: the King of Diamonds has a blue back, while all the other backs are red.

The pack in the Cary Collection¹ has the same dimensions and the same historical characters but the corners are described as being round and no maker’s name is given. Was this later pack a local copy of the one by Grimaud? Unfortunately, this later pack is not illustrated in the catalogue.

Reference

1. Keller, William B. The Cary Collection of Playing Cards, Vol. II. New Haven, CT, USA: Yale University Library; 1981. p.83, ROM 1.