French External Trade Organization
Promoting the elegance and quality of a range of French products.
This colourful pack was made for the French External Trade Organization and the French Committee for Exhibitions Abroad to promote products for which France is famous. The colourful, “in your face” double-ended courts (traditionally named) promote the following products – leather goods, fashion, furniture and fine tableware on the Ks, beauty products, jewellery, ladies’ ready wear on the Qs, and men’s ready wear, accessories for winter sports, toys, gastronomy and kitchen utensils on the Js. The pips have a modern look, with gradations of colour (orange to red on the red suits, and light blue to dark blue on the black suits) and in a non-standard arrangement. On the Joker and on the equally colourful back is the signature “Mezzadri” (the designer’s name?). See the info cards►
Above: French External Trade Organization promotional deck made by B.P. Grimaud, c1979. 52 cards + 2 (identical) Jokers + 2 extra cards (one in French, the second in English on one side and Japanese on the other) in plastic box. Size: 55 x 84 mm.
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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