Category:Paris pattern

The Paris pattern dates back to c. 1510, but became established around the mid-17th century. For centuries it had single-headed court cards but, around 1830, the double-headed version was introduced and gradually superseded the single-headed type. The defining characteristic are the names of legendary historical heroes on those cards. It has many modern derivatives.

The pattern was legally standardised in the mid-18th century as the portrait officiel; this lasted until 1940. The 'Modern Paris' pattern is still the standard pattern in France and retains the names on the court cards.

It is distinguished from the very similar Belgian-Genoese pattern as followsː

• Oval escutcheon on the Jack of Clubs instead of a triangular shield

• Heroic names on the courts

• Dividing lines of small circles with central dots

• The colour blue is used instead of the typical green on the B-G pattern

This category is only for the mainstream Paris pattern cards, not its derivatives such as the Belgian-Genoese pattern.

Referencesː

• Pattern Sheet 80 of the International Playing-Card Society at i-p-c-s.org/pattern/bgp.html