Paris pattern for WWII troops
Wartime edition of standard designs with fewer colours, a special back design and an overprint.
Packs produced in time of war have always had a special fascination. They may be produced for propaganda purposes or merely for entertainment. The latter is true here, as these cards were produced “A L’USAGE EXCLUSIF des TROUPES en CAMPAGNE” (i.e., for the exclusive use of troops on active service), as shown on the Ace of Clubs. Fewer colours than usual have been used to print the court cards (there is no yellow). A tricolour back design includes the text “ARMÉE FRANÇAISE GUERRE 1939”. One wonders how long they thought the war was going to last! The Ace of Clubs carries the normal stamp found on most French packs between 1890 and 1940 but with the addition of “Franchise de l’Impôt” (“free of tax”). The cards have been well used – as one would expect.
Above: wartime edition of standard French Paris pattern playing cards, with fewer colours, maker unknown (possibly Grimaud?), France, 1939. 31 of 32 cards (8C missing). Size: 54 x 84 mm.
By Roddy Somerville
France • Member since May 31, 2022 • Contact
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.
Related Articles
Redrawn French pattern (Héron)
Redrawn French pattern retaining traditional elements.
Cartes enfantines
Miniature 18th century Paris pattern cards for children, with decorated aces and 2s.
Claude Weisbuch
Free reinterpretation of the traditional Paris pattern courts by the artist Claude Weisbuch.
Maquettes for an unpublished WWI pack
Original designs depicting leaders and allegories from Russia, France, Great Britain and Belgium.
The story behind some special Jokers
How the “Gibbons” Jokers came into being.
Paris pattern by Leclaire of Paris
Standard designs from a little-known Parisian maker.
Paris pattern variant from Lyon, c1900
Updated courts retaining elements of a standard French pack by C. Gerentes, Lyon.
Compagnie Industrielle des Téléphones
Publicity pack featuring various historical figures “on the ‘phone”.
Jeu de Cartes Éclats
A kaleidoscope of form and colour encapsulated in a contemporary pack of playing cards.
French External Trade Organization
Promoting the elegance and quality of a range of French products.
Voutch
Comic designs by the French artist Olivier Vouktchevitch.
Le Jeu Sétois
A celebration of the town of Sète and its famous water jousting tournaments.
Disneyland Paris
Disney characters deck from Euro Disney, Marne la Vallée, France, c.2000.
Revolutionary playing cards
Revolutionary playing cards with decapitated courts published by ATYPYK, Paris, 2010.
Marie and Laurent’s Wedding
Wedding invitation and thank you card in the form of playing cards. France, 2019.
Vivacidol
Advertising pack for Vivacidol pharmaceutical product, France, c.1960s.
Jeu de 54 cartes
Jeu de 54 cartes, completely anonymous, designed to resemble locally produced French packs.
Tarot des Sapeurs-Pompiers de Paris
Tarot des Sapeurs-Pompiers de Paris, a French Fire Brigade tarot deck published by Éditions Dusserre...
Paris Pattern
The Paris pattern was established as such around the middle of the seventeenth century (based, perha...
French Playing Cards
Some of the oldest cards still in existence come from France. During the 16th and 17th centuries Fra...
Most Popular
Our top articles from the past 60 days
