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English pattern by JRC Industries

Published November 10, 2024 Updated November 10, 2024

A standard pack from South Africa using Piatnik courts with minor modifications.

2000 South Africa JRC Industries English Pattern

Looking at this pack with English (or international) courts, it is immediately obvious that Piatnik courts and Jokers have been quite blatantly copied. There are some minor modifications to the details on the clothing but the faces are almost identical, albeit with more use of red and orange.

The photograph of the lion on the reverse is credited to Carien Marais, while Brander Kemp Graphics of Pietermaritzburg are credited with the artwork. The back design of a lion is one of at least four in the African Wilderness series: the others depict a buffalo, a leopard or a wild dog.

standard English deck designed and produced by Observer Printing & JRC Industries, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, c2000 standard English deck designed and produced by Observer Printing & JRC Industries, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, c2000
standard English deck designed and produced by Observer Printing & JRC Industries, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, c2000

Above: standard English deck designed and produced by Observer Printing & JRC Industries, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, c2000. 52 cards + 3 Jokers in tuck box. Size: 62 x 87 mm.

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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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