La Rayonnante
Publicity pack for a French cleaning business, with suit-signs given smiling faces.
Cleaning could be a rather dull subject for an advertising pack but here one is left smiling at the beaming (or rayonnant in French) faces which have been drawn on the suit-signs on every card. The court card designs are double-ended and consist of enlarged suit-signs with smiling faces superimposed on them. The smiley on the Joker carries the name ‘DORCHY’ beneath. It is not clear whether this is a reference to the Belgian artist, Henry Dorchy (1920-2002). Did he design this pack? On the back is the name of the cleaning business and a friendly witch on a broomstick set against a bright red background.
Above: ‘La Rayonnante’ publicity playing cards made by B.P. Grimaud, France, c1970. 52 cards + 3 (identical) Jokers + 1 bridge score card. No 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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