Dutch Court playing cards
Games & Print Services’ version of the Dutch pattern.
These multicoloured designs, made by Games & Print Services and marketed under the name of ‘Dutch Court’, are really quite far removed from what we think of as a standard Dutch pattern. Attributes such as swords, sceptres, orbs, flowers and mirrors have been switched around. Most of the courts look in a different direction from normal, notably the QC and JS who look directly at the viewer. This pack carries an advertisement on the back for the Graphic Board Division of the James McNaughton Paper Group.
Above: “Dutch Court” playing cards made by Games & Print Services, Canvey Island, UK, c2000. 52 cards + 2 Jokers + 1 bridge scoring card. Size: 56 x 87 mm.
Above: cards from standard and jumbo index “Dutch Court” packs made by Games & Print Services, Canvey Island, UK, c1998. The Aces of Spades have a © symbol.
Note from Simon Wintle
An earlier version of the “Dutch Court” was produced by Games & Print Services around the mid-1990s which closely follows Dutch pattern designs by Brepols, but with English indices and without scenic aces. These were subsequently replaced with the designs shown above. There is no © symbol on the ace of spades which was added after an attempted copyright infringement, and the jokers are slightly different and have borders.
Above: early “Dutch Court” pack made by Games & Print Services, Canvey Island, UK, c.1997. 52 cards + 2 Jokers + 1 bridge scoring card. The bridge scoring card does not have ‘Made in the UK’ printed at the bottom.
By Roddy Somerville
France • 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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Games & Print Services Limited, of Canvey Island, now part of Cartamundi.
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