Maisons-Alfort à la “Belle Epoque”
Celebrating 1,000 years of the town of Maisons-Alfort (988-1988) with designs by Henri Simoni.
Maisons-Alfort is a commune in the south-eastern suburbs of Paris. The French National Veterinary School is situated there. During the Belle Epoque, the population of Maisons-Alfort more or less doubled. This pack depicts typical figures who would have lived and worked there during that period. The single-ended designs were created by Henri Simoni whose signature appears on the Jokers. The pip cards are plain. The coat of arms of the commune – a beehive surrounded by nine bees – has been used for the double-ended back design. See the box►
Above: Maisons-Alfort à la “Belle Epoque” playing cards with designs created by Henri Simoni and printed by Carta Mundi, 1988. 52 cards + 2 Jokers + 1 title card in tuck box. Size: 56 x 87 mm.
By Roddy Somerville
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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