Rok playing cards
Distinctive designs by James Hodges for a clothing company.
Promoting a new season’s garments by way of a pack of cards is not uncommon, but here James Hodges has applied his unique style to great effect in a set for the Lille-based clothing company, H. Roquette et fils, a business which lasted from 1956 to 1989. The company specialised in tops, trousers and jackets for men, women and boys. Examples of these are illustrated on the "head-to-toe” court cards against brightly coloured backgrounds (a different background colour for each suit). The shapes of the pips have been artistically modified. The back design is sober by comparison.
Above: designs by James Hodges manufactured by B.P. Grimaud for Ets H. Roquette et fils, Lille, France, 1972. 52 cards + 2 (identical) Jokers + bridge score card + title 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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