SEMP playing cards
Modified Anglo-American courts advertising a French medical publishing company.
SEMP stands for the Société d’Editions Médico-Pharmaceutiques (a French medical and pharmaceutical publishing company). In this promotional pack, the Anglo-American courts have been modified in several respects: their crowns have been replaced by wreaths, their hair has become more straggly, and they sport floral clothing. In addition, they have been given attributes associated with medicine and pharmaceutics – mortars, pestles, scales, medicinal plants, the Rod of Asclepius (KH and down each side of the numeral cards), etc. The maker’s name and “POUR SEMP” appear on the Ace of Spades. The cards have gilt corners. See the box►
Above: SEMP promotional playing cards made by Grimaud, France, c1980. 52 cards + 2 Jokers + 1 bridge scoring card in tuck box. Size: 58 x 89 mm. The box looks the same front and back.
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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