B.P. Grimaud - Cartes Indiennes

[theCapraAegagrus]

I would say, "Holy Caps Lock, Batman", but...

Hopefully it is authentic? Sounds too good to be true. Just sayin'!

[Bradius]

Congrats. I wouldn't be surprised if it was authentic. If you are careful and diligent, you can get some incredible deals on eBay.

[brownsl]

That is amazing, congrats! Please post photos of it when you get it.

[Harvonsgard]

It's kinda fascinating for me that this deck travelled all it's way from France to Australia, with Gods know how many stops in between and now it finds a new home in Suomiland. Congrats on that score Roope.

[Räpylätassu]

It's for sure real. The reason that nobody else bid on it might have been that nobody else simply found it. The seller had it listed with the name "B.P. Grimaud Paris Playing Cards Antique". So if you searched "Cartes Indiennes" on ebay, the search results wouldn't show this listing. The seller said that they had been in her drawer for over 30 years now...

Everything seems to be in great condition, all the cards still there. There is some kind of a small ink stain on the bottom corner of the tuck box.

Oh, and the deck is the light-red colored version instead of the light-blue that Matt has. I actually know another person on this forum who has this red colored version, why on earth this person doesn't want to flaunt it around I'll never understand.













I'll post my thoughts about it once it arrives.

[Decknowledgy]

My gawd these are in some pristine conditions!

[Räpylätassu]

Okay... When it rains it pours!

Cartes Indiennes Original starting bid at 50 €, over 6 days left, shipping from France. Cards seem to be in good condition, tuck box is in a bit rough shape.

[Bradius]

Unfortunately, that seller has no ebay feedback. That is a tough one to pull the trigger on. That is a bit of a risk.

[bruntyboy]

Hi. First post on this board and love your interest in these cards as I was trying to find out some more about them when I came across this forum. Anyhow I have this deck. The Ace of Clubs has a franking which is a bit smudged. Are these an original deck? By the way I agree they are a great design. Go easy on the old boy!

[Räpylätassu]

Yeah that's the 1890 original for sure!

How much did you end up paying for it, if I can ask?

I should get the deck I bought in a few days. Due to Covid, the shipping from Australia was damn slow

[Räpylätassu]

I received my deck!!!

I don't see much reason to take pictures as Matt already showed this deck so well. I did notice something between the 1985 Venice Simplon Orient Express reprint and the 1890 original though. The background in the pip cards is unique to every suit in the 1890 original, the 1985 version has the same background for the black suits and a different one for the red suits. The 4 different patterns look way better.

The deck is not nearly as stiff as I thought, it is actually not stiff at all. I wouldn't call it flimsy either, the paper is quite fine for being 130 years old.

The tuck box I have is in a magnificent condition. There is a small ink stain in one of the corners, but it's so minor that it does not bother me the slightest. The tuck box feels very, very nice and sliding it open and removing the cards is effortless, no clunking, feels amazing.

This is the best deck in my collection, no contest.

[acetofive]

I've had several of these decks pass through my studio at one time or another over the past 12 years or so. I've recorded 6 variations so far. Here they are photoshopped together.

[Räpylätassu]

Wow! I just assumed that there would be two variations, light-blue and that peach colored red.

I would really like to know the name of the person who designed this deck but alas, it seems to be lost to history.

Also welcome to the forum acetofive! You mentioned your studio, can you tell us more about it?

[acetofive]

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[Räpylätassu]

The 1985 double deck being sold for 124,97 USD. The other deck is opened, the other one is still sealed.

Shipping from Michigan.

[acetofive]

JEU DE CARTES INDIENNES GRIMAUD ART-NOUVEAU 1890 + ETUI / WIST / COMPLET
(not reproductions)

https://www.ebay.fr/itm/JEU-DE-CARTES-I ... i_advanced

Starting bid 149 Euros, 210 Buy it now.
Lieu de livraison: France, Allemagne, Suisse, Italie, Espagne, Pays-Bas, Belgique

Hard to tell, but it looks to me some of the backs are either discolored or come from different decks.

[Bradius]

Interesting. I agree, the cards had to come from two decks. Someone that has the 1890 deck, does this look like the original or the reproduction later? I am just not an expert on this deck.

[Decknowledgy]

This looks like the 1890 original without the number indices stamped onto the upper-left and lower-right pips! Also, since there's no tax stamp on the AoC (or the photo quality isn't showing it), I suspect this deck has never left France. If it's truly the original, this is gotta be one of the decks in the best state.

[acetofive]

1980's Reproductions vs 1890's Originals. Reproduction decks have two different color backs - one green, the other auburn/peach. Its courts are always the same green background as far as I can tell. See an earlier post for what I've been able to document about color schemes for the original 1890's Cartes Indiennes.

[acetofive]

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[Timmargh]

The ebay listing I posted April 6 is the original deck. It looks like Aces and courts are with green backs, 2-6 with peach backs - but there is a lot of glare in the photo. Also - it's hard to tell from the photo, and the seller doesn't mention it, but the inner box sleeve might be missing.

What would you consider a good price to bid for this particular listing? I really like this deck after seeing a few of my amigos showing off theirs, but don't know enough regarding its value.

[Bradius]

I finally decided to pull the trigger as I am fairly certain now this is an original 1890 deck, although one with two combined variants. Not sure about the box. I am assuming no box is included. Even so, I don't have an original, and $250 USD seems reasonable.

Evidently though the seller doesn't ship to US, so this may be an issue. I am messaging the seller. Hopefully we can work something out.

[Harvonsgard]

If you need a hub in Europe (GER) feel free to gimme a call Brad.
If interested shoot me a dm an instagram though (@harvonsgard - same avatar pic) because pms here are kind of a hassle, haha.

[Bradius]

If you need a hub in Europe (GER) feel free to gimme a call Brad.

Thanks. Hopefully I can just pay extra shipping and get it done directly. If that doesn't work out, I will PM you and work something out with you. Thanks for the offer. I have really wanted to get the 1890 deck for a long time.

[brownsl]

I just checked the listing and it shows that it sold. Hopefully, you or another UC member got it.

[Harvonsgard]

I have really wanted to get the 1890 deck for a long time.

Oh yah. There is something about pre 1900s decks. Congrats on the deal, btw.

[acetofive]

No doubt they're originals. Just as Decknowledgy observed, indices are absent - indices only appear on the reproductions. The backs display the original artwork - not reproductions. Although the different colored backs indicate two different decks, the faces are consistent with what a single deck would look like. In this particular color scheme (auburn/peach backgrounds), all the numbered cards have their own unique background in each suit. And, as far as I know, reproductions never appeared with those court background colors. Very nice. They are gorgeous cards.

[acetofive]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Orient ... SwnFZgb553

"Venise Simplon" Reproductions. Single Deck. Decent price. Shipping from the UK.

[Timmargh]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Orient ... SwnFZgb553

"Venise Simplon" Reproductions. Single Deck. Decent price. Shipping from the UK.

* yoink *

[Bradius]

You will really enjoy the 1985 version. I have two myself and they are some of my favorite decks. Get ready to plunk down more on the hunt for an 1890 edition. This one will just wet your appetite for it. As said, the price is decent. I think that is about what I paid for mine.