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Published April 30, 2017 Updated July 10, 2022

Jeu de Cartes Napoléon

Deck created by Matéja celebrating the bicentenary of the birth of Napoleon (1769-1969)

1969 France Grimaud Matéja Art & Design Commemorative Napoleon Add to Collection

Jeu de Cartes Napoléon” created by Matéja celebrating the bicentenary of the birth of Napoleon (1769-1969). The cards have French indices and are double-ended. See the Information cards

Napoleon is almost universally depicted as a short man while the truth is that he was probably slightly above average height for the period, only his generals and marshals were taller. According to a contemporary observer, Napoleon possessed a magnetic personality and a fascinating smile... but, when excited by any violent passion his face took on a stern and even terrible expression. His eyes were reported to be grey or blue, penetrating and wonderfully mobile.

A dual-deck created by Matéja celebrating the bicentenary of the birth of Napoleon (1769-1969) A dual-deck created by Matéja celebrating the bicentenary of the birth of Napoleon (1769-1969)

Above: cards from a dual deck created by Matéja celebrating the bicentenary of the birth of Napoleon, manufactured by B.P Grimaud, 1969. Each ace carries a medal of a French order of honour, while the court cards depict important leaders from the time of Napoleon. Green or maroon backs.

English Indices Version

deck created by Matéja celebrating the bicentenary of the birth of Napoleon (1769-1969)

Above: English (International) indexed version of these cards. Packaged as a single pack, rather than a dual set, the courts have English indices and the jokers lack the maker's name. All images courtesy Matt Probert.

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By Matt Probert

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.


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