Fairly cheap grade ‘Monic’ brand double-ended ‘Paris’ style playing cards with courts in red/yellow/black. “Cartes Luxe” and a Piquet pack advertising “Le Nil” cigarette papers (Joseph Bardou et Fils) on the box. Earlier examples had square corners and the name ‘Monic’ incorporated in the back design
Above: ‘Monic’ brand playing cards with red/yellow/black courts and no borders. Dates and manufacturer uncertain, possibly Tunisia, c.1930s.
By Matt Probert
Member since March 02, 2012
View ArticlesI have adored playing cards since before I was seven years old, and was brought up on packs of Waddington's No 1. As a child I was fascinated by the pictures of the court cards.
Over the next fifty years I was seduced by the artwork in Piatnik's packs and became a collector of playing cards.
Seeking more information about various unidentified packs I discovered the World of Playing Cards website and became an enthusiastic contributor researching and documenting different packs of cards.
I describe my self as a playing card archaeologist, using detective work to identify and date obscure packs of cards discovered in old houses, flea markets and car boot sales.
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