B.P. Grimaud - Cartes Indiennes

[Romeril]

Ok, I just got this deck today and wanted to show everybody, it is amazing! After a quick search here, I did not find an existing thread for this deck, Cartes Indiennes, or the reprint of it, Venise Simplon-Orient Express. If I'm wrong please let me know.
This wonderful, colorful deck was printed in chromolithography and published by B.P. Grimaud from Paris as "Cartes Indiennes" in 1890. The courts all show Indian figures as Kings, Queens and Jacks and they are set against a floral background design. On the number cards we also find a floral design in the background, which gives the deck an Art Nouveau look.
The Whist deck of 52 cards has gold edges and there are some gold printed details on the courts too. It was obviously a luxury edition.

Tuck

Aces

[Romeril]

And more pictures

[Räpylätassu]

This is maybe the most beautiful deck of playing cards ever created. I could say that maybe the House of the Rising Spade is even better but Amy made a good point to me: There weren't any computers in 1890. This deck was all hand designed. It's just incredible looking...

This to me is one of those decks that it is more than a deck of playing cards... This is high art in it's own right. You could put these court cards in Louvre and they would not be out of place.

[kat11366]

Very beautiful deck indeed! Definitely on my wish list.... thanks for sharing!

[Bradius]

That is amazing. I have a reproduction of that deck, but I sure like the original. That is really nice. Congrats on hauling in a really magnificent deck in great condition given its age. Thanks for sharing those photos.

It is interesting to note that 1890 is the year my great grandmother was born. She past away in 1987. A heck of a lot of technological advancements happened in that period of time.

[Decknowledgy]

I just bought the other deck of the twin set, although this one is a 1985 reprint of the originals. Rom's is definitely crazy antique









This one sold for $75.
Although Rom and I have respectively bought different decks of the same set, currently there is a complete twin-set listing which is the reprint in 1985 selling for $250 on Ruby Lane.

Link here if anyone is interested: https://www.rubylane.com/item/404269-T0 ... t=70fcf37a

[Räpylätassu]

The reason the 80's single deck is only 75 USD is that the listing was without a tuck box, or at least that's what I think. Still, if you find somekind of tuck for, it's a great deck for sure for a rather nice price. That 250 USD for that double is quite a lot though...

[Decknowledgy]

This is definitely going into Sherm's deck sleeve or case!
The twin set is steep for a reprint yeah, but Rom's 1890 original was $350 hahaha...

And a deck of Original Jerry's sells between $300-$500

[Romeril]

but Rom's 1890 original was $350 hahaha

Yep! A bargain! No regrets!

[Jock1971]

This is truly an amazing deck.
The deck looks in great condition for its age, and with a complete tuck box as well , i am really jealous right now Romeril.

Two things i`ve noticed.
First..... This is the variant without any inscriptions, i.e the name "B.P Grimaud" & "Paris" on all the court cards ( like you can see in the 1985 reprint). While this variant is by no means rarer or more uncommon than the variant with inscriptions, it is noteworthy.
Second....There is no Tax Stamp on any of the Aces (you can see a replica of the original on the 1985 reprint)
This again is not uncommon as the deck was probably used for export, i only wish there was more of the original tax band on the box which would have told us more.

The twin set is steep for a reprint yeah, but Rom's 1890 original was $350 hahaha...

And a deck of Original Jerry's sells between $300-$500

Different strokes for different folks i guess.
Personally i would buy the grimaud deck for $350 in a heartbeat... but would never buy a original jerry`s, even if it was $20-$50

[Romeril]

i only wish there was more of the original tax band on the box which would have told us more.

Here is all that remains of the tax band on the back of the box:

Cartes.Indiennes.Tuck.Seal.jpg (97.06 KiB) Viewed 6811 times

[Jock1971]

That looks to be the manufacturer's own band, which is another strong indication that the pack was intended for export.
I don`t have pictures of a wrapper used in 1890, but the following wrappers were used around 1910. Not exactly the same but similar.

d04525band.jpg

d05568wrapper2.jpg

You can see the official bands used in france at Peter Endebrock's site at
http://www.endebrock.de/stamps.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Although your Aces are not stamped, here`s a picture of an Ace which was exported to Austria and show`s the Austrian tax stamp used in 1890

d00587hA.jpg

Jase

[Merlebird]

Has anyone heard from Mike recently regarding the possibility of a licensed restoration/reprint? Last I saw was that brief mention in the thread for the Dondorf Hundertjahrkarte restoration.

Grats to Romeril for the acquisition. I saw the listing myself but in the end the price point was too rich for my blood. Glad it's going to someone who'll appreciate it.

[Romeril]

Has anyone heard from Mike recently regarding the possibility of a licensed restoration/reprint? Last I saw was that brief mention in the thread for the Dondorf Hundertjahrkarte restoration.

I don't know anything about that, but would be interested to know! Also of note, Jackson Robinson has expressed an interest in this deck and asked if I could scan the deck for him, which I did. Maybe we will see him do something with this deck in the future??

Grats to Romeril for the acquisition. I saw the listing myself but in the end the price point was too rich for my blood. Glad it's going to someone who'll appreciate it.

Thank you Merlebird, I do love this deck and it is now the most prized in my collection

[Bradius]

Heck, I have the reprint of this deck, and the reprint is one of the most prized decks in my collection.

[brownsl]

I would definitely be interested in buying an original or a reprint if anyone knows of someone selling one.

[Decknowledgy]

I would definitely be interested in buying an original or a reprint if anyone knows of someone selling one.

There's a two-deck set on Ruby Lane, I posted the link earlier, but here again: https://www.rubylane.com/item/404269-T0 ... t=70fcf37a" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[brownsl]

Thanks! The price seems a bit steep though for a reproduction.

[brownsl]

Is there a resource (book?) available that has these older historical decks in them? It would fascinating to learn more about them and maybe purchase a deck or two.

[Räpylätassu]

A sealed 1985 double deck starting bid at 224,95 £. Note that Two for His Heels on Rubylane still has the same double deck for 250 USD, which is actually a cheaper price but both decks on that set are opened. The box is also in fantastic condition on this one.

The auction ends in about 29 hours. The price is rather steep but the condition is excellent. And to those that compare this to the fact that Romeril got the the 1890 original for 350 USD, that was a steal of a lifetime and will most likely not happend again.

[Räpylätassu]

A sealed 1985 double deck starting bid at 224,95 £. Note that Two for His Heels on Rubylane still has the same double deck for 250 USD, which is actually a cheaper price but both decks on that set are opened. The box is also in fantastic condition on this one.

The auction ends in about 29 hours. The price is rather steep but the condition is excellent. And to those that compare this to the fact that Romeril got the the 1890 original for 350 USD, that was a steal of a lifetime and will most likely not happend again.

35 min left

[Räpylätassu]

A sealed 1985 double deck starting bid at 224,95 £. Note that Two for His Heels on Rubylane still has the same double deck for 250 USD, which is actually a cheaper price but both decks on that set are opened. The box is also in fantastic condition on this one.

The auction ends in about 29 hours. The price is rather steep but the condition is excellent. And to those that compare this to the fact that Romeril got the the 1890 original for 350 USD, that was a steal of a lifetime and will most likely not happend again.

35 min left

Somebody bought it! Was that you brownsl?

[brownsl]

Lol, yes I did. I am so weak with this hobby. I have other hobbies and am able to have some self-control. This one is hard.

I really like these decks and thanks for all your posts about them!

I am looking forward to getting the deck!! I have to open it though.

[Harvonsgard]

Lol, yes I did. I am so weak with this hobby. I have other hobbies and am able to have some self-control. This one is hard.

Relatable! I always have a fix budget for cards ... I always end up spending more than planned; mostly thanks to Roope .

Awesome catch by the way. Definetly one of the best decks out there.

[Bradius]

You will like it. It is really beautiful as a set. I have just one sealed deck and love it. It is a lot to pay, but I am sure you will be happy with it. Let us know what you think when you get it in hand.

I can’t bring myself to open mine, even as a single sealed deck!

[brownsl]

Now, I just have to resist the temptation to try and find a second set so that I can open one and keep the other sealed!

[Decknowledgy]

I have only one of them, without a tuck case, but even then:

[Räpylätassu]

1890 ORIGINAL EBAY LISTING

1 day and 18 hours left, current bid at 144 €. In original box. Shipping from France.

[Räpylätassu]

1890 ORIGINAL EBAY LISTING

1 day and 18 hours left, current bid at 144 €. In original box. Shipping from France.

A bit shy of 3 hours left, current bid at 201 €

[Räpylätassu]

1890 ORIGINAL EBAY LISTING

1 day and 18 hours left, current bid at 144 €. In original box. Shipping from France.

A bit shy of 3 hours left, current bid at 201 €

30 min left, current bid still at 201 €!!