Tô Tôm № 1204

Tô Tôm № 1204 cards manufactured by A. Camoin & Cie, Marseille, for French colonies. Tô Tôm is played with a 120-card Chinese-style deck and is derived from the Chinese game of Khanhoo. The head and foot of each card gives the rank and suit in Chinese characters.

Above: Tô Tôm cards manufactured by A. Camoin & Cie, Marseille, c.1900. During French colonial rule, the Marseilles firm Camoin redesigned the deck to depict people wearing traditional Japanese costumes from the Edo period. Images courtesy Ruth Mancino.

One of the most intriguing aspects of Vietnamese Tô Tôm playing cards is their cultural heritage and unique design. These cards are part of Vietnam's traditional games and reflect a blend of Chinese and Japanese influences. Historically, Tô Tôm cards were popular among the upper class and were considered an elegant game requiring intelligence and strategy

Above: Chinese card game used at Haï-Phong, manufactured by Camoin (Marseille) c.1870. Woodcut in red and black; 8.3 x 2.3 cm; orange backs. Source gallica.bnf.fr / Bibliothèque nationale de France • Jeu de cartes chinois employé à Haï-Phong►

Further References

Bibliothèque nationale de France: Jeu de cartes chinois employé à Haï-Phong►

Wikipedia: Tổ tôm►

Above: Vietnamese card players, 1904.

Above: four youths playing cards, drawn by Nguyen Van Tru. © The Trustees of the British Museum