Bourbon Bridge
Attractive, woodcut-style courts adapted for modern play.
There is no indication as to which old pack was being adapted here or whether the original pack had double-ended courts. However, the courts have retained their French names, complete with spelling mistakes (e.g., “IUDICTH” instead of “JUDITH”). Among the changes to make these woodcut-style cards suitable for modern play are the addition of indices (K, Q, J, 10 to A) and Jokers. The central pips on the Aces have been enlarged and given stripes. The maker’s name has been included on the Jack of Clubs. The cards have cream backgrounds and a modern plastic coating. The borderless, one-way back design is made up of fleurs-de-lis against either a red or a grey-blue background.
All in all, this was a popular pack which appealed to those wishing to play games with cards which had an old-fashioned look. See the box►
The first edition of these cards included a paper slip (size: 62 x 100 mm) with the manufacturer’s name given as “Muller & Co. Ltd.”. In a later edition, this had become a stiffer card (size: 61 x 97 mm) with the manufacturer’s name given as “AGM AGMuller”. Other variations in later editions include less rounded corners and the addition of a double-sided bridge score card.
• See the title card►
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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