Papier Tigre

Published July 17, 2026 Updated July 17, 2026

Stylised French pattern courts broken down into simple geometric shapes.

2022 FranceGeometricPapier TigreParis Pattern

Papier Tigre is a Paris-based stationery company founded in 2012. Amongst the games they sell is this pack of cards with a distinctly modern feel. However, on closer inspection, the designs are clearly based on standard French pattern courts but with the constituent parts broken down into simple geometric shapes. Even the colours employed correspond to those used on present-day standard French packs. Only the traditional names are missing. The aces have identical patterned backgrounds. Versions of Papier Tigre’s logo appear on the Jokers and on the reverse. The rest of the back design is composed of the same geometric elements found on the faces, in the same colours. See the box

Modern French playing cards published by Papier Tigre, Paris, France, 2022 Modern French playing cards published by Papier Tigre, Paris, France, 2022 Modern French playing cards published by Papier Tigre, Paris, France, 2022

Above: Modern French playing cards published by Papier Tigre, Paris, France, 2022. Made in E.U. 52 cards + 2 Jokers + 1 extra card in tuck box. Size: 63 x 88 mm.

Available from www.papiertigre.fr

avatar
679 Articles

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.

Activity for Papier Tigre

Sign in to comment or save this article.


Related Articles

1973 Pierre Cardin

Pierre Cardin

Geometric designs in a futurist style by Jean Garçon for the couturier Pierre Cardin.

2020 Summer Solstice

Summer Solstice

Jackson Robinson’s Summer Solstice is a minimalist seasonal pack built around solar colours and geom...

2012 Misc. Goods Co. Playing Cards

Misc. Goods Co. Playing Cards

One of the early custom playing-card projects funded through Kickstarter, and the starting point for...

1972 Ormavyl

Ormavyl

Branded advertising playing cards with modern look made in France, 1970s.

1850 Aónikenk playing cards

Aónikenk playing cards

Ethnographic playing cards made by members of the Aónikenk culture from Patagonia.

1982 Tactics Design

Tactics Design

Late modernist Japanese playing cards designed by Masayoshi Nakajo for Tactics Design.

1905 Whist by Ditha Moser

Whist by Ditha Moser

Ditha Moser created this minimalist Whist deck in 1905, in the style of the Vienna Secession art mov...

1968 Knoll International

Knoll International

Geometric designs by the French artist Jean Garçon for Knoll International, the furniture company.

2011 Bicycle Robocycle

Bicycle Robocycle

Bicycle Robocycle playing cards with quirky robotic illustrations by Duct Tape & Glitter for Theory ...

1985 Pierre Etaix

Pierre Etaix

Colourful, stylised courts designed by the French clown, comedian and filmmaker, Pierre Etaix.

2020 Hyperspace Royalty

Hyperspace Royalty

Modern geometric designs by graphic artist Mathew den Boer, Canada, 2020.

Benedicte Morand-Bail

Benedicte Morand-Bail

Benedicte Morand-Bail’s striking and colourful abstract poker deck with French named courts

1935 Whot

Whot

Whot was invented by William Henry Storey in 1935. It comes from the days when friends and family pl...

1967 Salvador Dalí

Salvador Dalí

Based on the standard French ‘Paris’ pattern, Dalí composed his playing card figures out of geometri...

1909 Arnold Schönberg

Arnold Schönberg

In around 1909 he created three sets of playing cards. His inventiveness was driven by a passion for...

1964 Simultané

Simultané

Simple geometric forms with an inner life and poetry emanating from the richness of colour, the musi...


Sign in with Google