Smith-Corona Marchant

At first glance, all four kings look almost identical – ditto for the queens and the jacks. On closer inspection, there are differences in the crowns, the clothing, and so on. The artist Avoine (Paul Audin, 1939-2017) has used bright primary colours for the kings, pale pastel colours for the queens and stronger pastel colours for the jacks. The pips on the numeral cards are all ‘one-way’, with no miniature suit-signs in the corners. On the reverse one finds the name of the advertiser, Smith-Corona Marchant, makers of office equipment including typewriters and calculators, and their tri-bar logo.

Above: promotional playing cards made by B.P. Grimaud, France, for Smith-Corona Marchant, 1972. 52 cards + 2 Jokers + 2 extra cards. Size: 58 x 89 mm.