The World of Playing Cards Logo

Cartes Illustrées

Published June 08, 2022 Updated June 08, 2022

Standard French designs adapted for children. Made by France Cartes for La Grande Récré, c.2016.

2016 France France Cartes Nicolas Bernard Childhood Innovation

Mon premier jeu de cartes...

Illustrator Nicolas Bernard has attempted to modernise and rejuvenate the faces of standard French court cards to make them more attractive to children. The names/values of all the cards are spelt out in full alongside the traditional indices – in French at one end of each card, in English at the other. In addition, this is a 4-colour pack: S = black; H = red; C = green; D = yellow. The Joker is a childlike jester. Blue patterned backs. The rules for playing La bataille are printed in French on the reverse of the tuck box. See the box

Standard French designs adapted for children by Nicolas Bernard Standard French designs adapted for children by Nicolas Bernard Standard French designs adapted for children by Nicolas Bernard

Above: Cartes Illustrées by Nicolas Bernard, made by France Cartes for La Grande Récré, c.2016. 52 cards + 3 Jokers in tuck box sealed in a hanging blister pack. On poor quality board.

avatar
541 Articles

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.


Leave a Reply

Default Avatar
Your Name
Just now

Create account to comment Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here.


Related Articles

1690 Archaic Franco-Spanish pattern

Archaic Franco-Spanish pattern

Archaic Franco-Spanish pattern by Guillaume & Jean Grossard (Bordeaux).

1812 76: Transitions: Hunt & Sons

76: Transitions: Hunt & Sons

Styles change and technology develops. This means that it's possible to see transition periods in th...

1972 Les Jeux de Pastor

Les Jeux de Pastor

Striking designs by Edouard Pastor focusing on the heads of figures from the medieval period.

1971 Le Jeu des Personnages de l’Antiquité et du Moyen-Age

Le Jeu des Personnages de l’Antiquité et du Moyen-Age

Edouard Pastor’s designs in black and gold inspired by Antiquity and the Middle Ages.

Rouen Pattern  - Portrait Rouennais

Rouen Pattern - Portrait Rouennais

An attractive XV century French-suited design from Rouen became the standard English & Anglo-America...

1708 Archaic Spanish proof sheets

Archaic Spanish proof sheets

2 x uncoloured proof sheets of archaic Spanish-suited playing cards produced for “New Spain”, possib...

1880 English Pattern by B.P. Grimaud

English Pattern by B.P. Grimaud

Standard English pattern published by B.P. Grimaud with engraving by F. Simon, c.1880.

1965 Jeu de Tarot (Catel & Farcy)

Jeu de Tarot (Catel & Farcy)

Colourful version of a standard French (‘Bourgeois’) Tarot.

1972 Smith-Corona Marchant

Smith-Corona Marchant

Simplified yet colourful court card designs by Avoine for Smith-Corona Marchant.

1975 Redrawn French pattern (Héron)

Redrawn French pattern (Héron)

Redrawn French pattern retaining traditional elements.

1965 7 Familles Le Manège Enchanté

7 Familles Le Manège Enchanté

The Magic Roundabout characters on a jeu de 7 familles designed by James Hodges.

2024 Paris 2024 Olympics 3

Paris 2024 Olympics 3

Paris Games mascot Phryge engaged in different sports in a Happy Families-type game.

2024 Paris 2024 Olympics 2

Paris 2024 Olympics 2

A standard French Tarot game pack with passing references to the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games.

2024 Paris 2024 Olympics 1

Paris 2024 Olympics 1

Modern Paris pattern courts, special ace and jokers for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.

Printing Presses

Printing Presses

Antique printing presses from the Turnhout Playing Card Museum collection.

2024 Tarot – Images du Pays Basque

Tarot – Images du Pays Basque

Seventy-eight photographic images of the French Basque Country on a pack for playing the game of Tar...