Les Géants d’un Mythe
Les Géants d'un Mythe created by François Poulain and manufactured by Grimaud, 1983.
The world of playing cards owes a great deal to the art of cinematography. “Les Geants d'un Mythe” playing cards were created by François Poulain celebrating legends of the silver screen and manufactured by Grimaud in 1983. The 12 court cards show caricatures of movie stars, arguably more interesting than photographs, and who are mostly American. The pips are morphed cinema equipment (microphones, clapperboards, etc). while the four aces feature different pieces of vintage film-making equipment. See the Key Card►
Above: Les Geants d'un Mythe playing cards created by François Poulain and manufactured by Grimaud in 1983. Images courtesy Matt Probert.
By Matt Probert
United Kingdom • Member since March 02, 2012
I have adored playing cards since before I was seven years old, and was brought up on packs of Waddington's No 1. As a child I was fascinated by the pictures of the court cards.
Over the next fifty years I was seduced by the artwork in Piatnik's packs and became a collector of playing cards.
Seeking more information about various unidentified packs I discovered the World of Playing Cards website and became an enthusiastic contributor researching and documenting different packs of cards.
I describe my self as a playing card archaeologist, using detective work to identify and date obscure packs of cards discovered in old houses, flea markets and car boot sales.
Activity for Les Géants d’un Mythe
Sign in to comment or save this article.
Related Articles
Figures from Romanian History
Named characters from Romanian history on a pack by Grimaud of Paris.
Gibert Jeune (Molière)
Pack offered by the Parisian bookshop Gibert Jeune on the tricentenary of Molière’s death.
Catalan pattern by B.P Grimaud
Standard Spanish Catalan pattern deck made in Paris by B.P Grimaud.
Cartes politiques : Jeu d'actualité
Political playing cards published by Grimaud et Chartier, Paris, 1872.
English Pattern by B.P. Grimaud
Standard English pattern published by B.P. Grimaud with engraving by F. Simon, c.1880.
SEMP playing cards
Modified Anglo-American courts advertising a French medical publishing company.
Compagnie Maritime des Chargeurs Réunis
French navigators and explorers on a promotional pack for the C.M.C.R shipping company.
B.P. Grimaud pack for Bolivia
Spanish-suited pack made in France for sale in Bolivia, c.1880.
Les Mousquetaires Playing Cards
depicting characters from the novel by Alexandre Dumas
Grimaud copy of Wüst playing cards
A copy of Wüst house pattern 3
French External Trade Organization
Promoting the elegance and quality of a range of French products.
Bretagne
Bretagne (Brittany) playing cards, Grimaud, c.1970.
Parisian style Spanish deck by Grimaud
Parisian style Spanish deck by Grimaud for export to Uruguay.
Jeu Louis XV
B.P. Grimaud of Paris issued this very ornate costume deck called “Jeu Louis XV No.1502” in c.1895. ...
S.S. France playing cards
A special non-standard pack of playing cards was designed by M. Marie for the maiden voyage of the t...
Livre du Destin
Livre du Destin / The Book of Fate, c.1900, entire deck (32 cards)
Livre du Destin
Livre du Destin or Book of Fate, printed by B.P.Grimaud, Paris, c.1900.
Genoese pattern
The design is purely 'Parisian' but the colouring is green, red, yellow and black. Belgium has taken...
French Playing Cards
Some of the oldest cards still in existence come from France. During the 16th and 17th centuries Fra...
Grimaud Spanish pattern
Grimaud Spanish pattern, c.1880
Most Popular
Our top articles from the past 60 days
Ian Taylor
19 November 2025, 09:47SavedSaved this article to Ian Taylor's Collection
Jacques Bourdens
19 November 2025, 09:47SavedSaved this article to Jacques Bourdens's Collection