The New Game of Tarot (or Tarock)
Regional costumes and alpine flora on a French Tarot game pack marking 600 years of playing cards in Europe.
Heraclio Fournier decided to commemorate 600 years of playing cards in Europe (1377-1977) by issuing this French-suited Tarot game pack with an alpine flavour. The court cards feature 19th century regional costumes from Italy (S), Austria (H), France (D), and Switzerland (C), while most of the trump cards have photographic images of alpine flora. All the designs are double-ended. The artist or designer is not mentioned by name. Strangely, although the indices are in French, the game rules are in English. The old confusion between Tarot and Tarock is perpetuated here, as the first appears on the title card while the second is used on the box and on the leaflet with the rules. The title of the pack – ‘Nuevo Juego del Tarot’ or ‘The New Game of Tarot’ – is rather odd, given the long history of Tarot, but presumably Heraclio Fournier are referring to the fact that this pack has completely new designs.
Above: ‘The New Game of Tarot’ made by Heraclio Fournier, S.A., Vitoria, Spain, 1977. 78 cards + 2 (double-sided) title cards + rules in English, in drop-lid box. Size: 60 x 110 mm.
• See the box►
• See the leaflet►
• See the title cards►
By Roddy Somerville
France • Member since May 31, 2022 • Contact
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.
Related Articles
Jeu Buffon
Illustrations of different birds from works by Buffon to celebrate the bicentenary of his death.
Le Globe Céleste
Views and plans of five international exhibitions held in Paris between 1855 and 1900.
Baraja de la Cocina Española
A celebration of Spanish gastronomy, with designs by Silja Götz employing non-standard suits.
Deportivo Alavés 1921-2021
Drawings by Guillem Bosch of famous Alavés footballers in celebration of the club’s centenary.
Jeu des 7 familles basques
A Happy Families-type game from the Basque country, with designs by Soledad Bravi and Agathe de Las...
Jeu du Bicentenaire de la Révolution Française
Pack created by Yannick Pennanguer commemorating the bicentenary of the French Revolution and the ce...
Naipes de Personajes Granadinos
Forty famous men and women with links to Granada, on a pack designed by Rubén Garrido.
Les Montgolfières 1783-1983
Honouring the bicentenary of the Montgolfier brothers’ first balloon flights in 1783.
Bankunión playing cards
Ingredients and recipes for 24 dishes from different regions of Spain.
Souvenir Playing Cards of Egypt
55 different photographic views of Egypt in full colour.
Naipes Heraclio Fournier 130th Anniversary
Baraja conmemorativa del 130 aniversario de naipes Heraclio Fournier (1868-1998) Spain, 1998.
Multicard
A Spanish-suited pack with multiple uses including roulette and dice.
Jeu de la Révolution
Artist Silvia Maddonni’s take on various characters from the French Revolution, in honour of the bic...
Festa Major de Vilafranca 1988
Colourful figures associated with the annual festival held in Vilafranca, Catalonia.
Crystal Time
Colourful and attractive designs by Violeta Monreal, inspired by stained glass through the ages.
Baraja de Futbol Mundial-82
A 1982 World Cup commemoration pack by Heráldica Castanyer from Spain with non-standard suits.
Maisons-Alfort à la “Belle Epoque”
Celebrating 1,000 years of the town of Maisons-Alfort (988-1988) with designs by Henri Simoni.
El Gato con Botas
Puss in Boots card game manufactured by H. Fournier, 1981.
El Cid 9th centenary
Playing cards commemorating the IX centenary of the death of ‘El Cid’ designed by Vicente S. Algora....
Heraclio Fournier S.A.
Founded in 1868, today it is part of Cartamundi.
Most Popular
Our top articles from the past 60 days
