Antique B.P. Grimaud No. 90 Poker Piquet Playing Cards – Original Advertising Sleeve

Discover this beautiful antique B.P. Grimaud No. 90 Poker playing card deck, complete with its 32-card Piquet deck, the original Grimaud tuck box, and its rare A. Legris, Rouen advertising sleeve. This complete ensemble is a wonderful example of the quality and craftsmanship that made B.P. Grimaud France's most prestigious playing card manufacturer.

The deck features the classic Scottish plaid ("Écossais") card backs and the premium "Tranches Aluminium" finish, an innovative Grimaud process in which the card edges were coated with aluminum to improve durability and protect them from everyday wear.

Several cards retain the original French "Timbre Fiscal du Jeu" tax stamp bearing the inscription "Décret du 12 Avril 1890". This refers to the French gaming tax regulations introduced by the decree of April 12, 1890, and confirms the deck as an officially taxed French playing card set produced after that legislation.

The original retailer's sleeve advertises A. Legris, a merchant in Rouen specializing in glassware, porcelain, playing cards, dominoes, and supplies for cafés, bars, restaurants, and hotels. These personalized advertising sleeves were commonly discarded after purchase, making surviving examples increasingly difficult to find.

🔹 Original B.P. Grimaud No. 90 Poker playing cards
🔹 Complete 32-card Piquet deck
🔹 Original Grimaud tuck box included
🔹 Original A. Legris – Rouen advertising sleeve
🔹 Premium "Tranches Aluminium" (aluminum-edged) finish
🔹 Original French "Timbre Fiscal du Jeu" tax stamp ("Décret du 12 Avril 1890")
🔹 Scottish plaid ("Écossais") card backs
🔹 Manufactured in France, circa 1930s–1950s

Condition: The deck remains in very good vintage condition. The cards are complete and display bright colors with only light handling wear. The original Grimaud tuck box and the advertising sleeve remain present and solid, showing expected edge wear, rubbing, and small tears consistent with age. Please examine all photographs carefully for the exact condition.

🪶 Collector's Note

Founded in 1848, B.P. Grimaud became the leading French manufacturer of playing cards, renowned for exceptional print quality and constant innovation. Among its premium products was the No. 90 Poker – Tranches Aluminium, whose aluminum-coated edges offered increased resistance to moisture and handling while giving the deck a refined appearance.

This complete deck still bears its original French "Timbre Fiscal du Jeu" tax stamp, referencing the Decree of April 12, 1890, which governed the taxation of playing cards sold in France. Although the decree dates from 1890, the design of the box, the aluminum-edge finish, and the retailer's advertising indicate a production period of approximately 1930–1950.

Even more desirable is the survival of the original advertising sleeve from A. Legris of Rouen, a merchant supplying cafés, hotels, restaurants, and gaming establishments. Such retailer wrappers were usually discarded, making complete examples like this increasingly scarce and highly appreciated by collectors of French playing cards and advertising memorabilia.