French-Suited Playing Cards: A Photographic Archive

A Gallery of Historical and Modern Decks Featuring Suit Variations and Artistic Interpretations

FRENCH-SUITED PLAYING CARDS | 1
In this completely abstract system, suits are hearts and diamonds (red), and spades and clubs (black). Court cards are King, Queen, and Jack, depicted full-length in the oldest decks. A standard complete pack consists of 52 cards, with numeral cards ranging from 2 to 10. In modern packs, these are usually accompanied by one or more jokers. However, many regional or national decks are still widely used, particularly those consisting of 32 [A789XJQK], 36 [A6789XJQK], or 40 [A234567JQK] cards, as well as other configurations for specific games. Numeral (or pip) cards are plain, with suit symbols arranged on the card according to a repetitive and well-established pattern. Since this system covers a large number of decks, it was necessary to divide it into several parts.
A=Ace | X=10 | J=Jack | Q=Queen | K=King
1 | MAIN PATTERNS

Languedoc pattern
INFOBOXA pre-19th-century pattern. Here, a restored version.
single-headed only Languedoc-style playing cards, restored
1
French National pattern
INFOBOX«Portrait officiel» & "export" versions.
single-headed French-style playing cards, full-lenght figures double-headed French-style playing cards
24
variants (& other countries) French-style playing cards, variant
22
French international pattern
INFOBOXAlso known as Belgian or Genoa pattern. Double-headed only.
France, Belgium & other countries International French-style playing cards
34
Italy (Genoa pattern) International French-style playing cards, Genoese pattern
14
Piedmont pattern
INFOBOXLight variant of the French double-headed pattern, horizontally divided, and others.
double-headed only Piedmontese-style playing cards
12
Swiss-Parisian pattern
INFOBOXSwiss version of the French national pattern. Ended ∼1900.
single-headed only Swiss Parisian-style playing cards
1
Geneva pattern
INFOBOXLight variant of the Dauphiné pattern. Ended ∼1940.
single-headed Geneva-style playing cars, full-lenght figures double-headed Geneva-style playing cards
5
Fribourg pattern
INFOBOXLyon export pattern. An excellent example of how full-length Viennese cards originally appeared. Ended ∼1850.
single-headed only Fribourg-style playing cards
1
Neuchatel pattern
INFOBOXLyon export pattern. Ended ∼1940.
single-headed Neuchâtel-style playing cards, full-lengh figures double-headed Neuchâtel-style playing cards
6
Vienna pattern
INFOBOXLyon export pattern. Three types lasted into the 20th century (and beyond).
Type A Viennese-style playing cards (type A) Type E Viennese-style playing cards (type E) Type D Viennese-style playing cards (type D)
32
Lyon & (old) Milan patterns
INFOBOXVersions directly derived from the "Lyon for Lyon" pattern. Ended ∼1925.
single-headed Lyon & Milan-style playing cards, full-lenght figures double-headed Lyon & Milan-style playing cards, double headed
3
Belgian patterns
INFOBOXBelgian "cartes larges" & Brussels "cartes étroites" (narrow): both also "cartes marbrées" (marbled). Double-headed only. Ended ∼1920.
Belgian pattern Belgian-style playing cards Brussels pattern Bruxelles-style playing cards
6
Liege pattern
INFOBOXA Rouen export pattern. Also known as "miners cards". Ended ∼1900.
single-headed only Liège-style playing cards
3
Rouen pattern
INFOBOXThe origin of the modern English pattern. Here restored decks and modern derivations. Pre-19th century.
single-headed Rouen-style playing cards, restored double-headed (hypothetical) Rouen-style playing cards, hypothetical
4
English pattern
INFOBOXThis section is split into multiple parts. Please refer to the extended page ["Anglo-American"].
single-headed English-style playing cards, full-lenght figures double-headed English-style playing cards Mecklenburg pattern
INFOBOXRank names in French. Ended ∼1900.
double-headed only Mecklenburg-style playing cards
2
Berlin pattern
INFOBOXGerman national pattern (in the French system).
double-headed only Berlin-style playing cards
37
variants (& other countries) Berlin-style playing cards, variant
24
Swiss pattern
INFOBOXSwiss national pattern (in the French system).
double-headed only Swiss-style playing cards (French system)
35
Russian pattern
INFOBOXRussian national pattern.
double-headed only Russian-style playing cards
8
«Trente-et-Quarante» pattern
INFOBOXA specific pattern for use in (some) European casinos.
double-headed only 'Trente-et-Quarante' playing cards
7
Frankfurt patterns
INFOBOXSeveral Frankfurt patterns & similar «cartes belges». Still in production in «Adler-Cego» (tarot) format. Double-headed only. Ended ∼1935.
(type I) Frankfurt-style playing cards (type I) (type II) Frankfurt-style playing cards (type II) (type III) Frankfurt-style playing cards (type III) (type IV) Frankfurt-style playing cards (type IV) «cartes belges» pattern 'Cartes Belges' playing cards
16
Rhineland pattern
INFOBOXA Dondorf pattern that spread internationally.
double-headed only Rhineland-style playing cards
32
Dutch pattern
INFOBOXFormerly (until ∼1970) described as «Cartes Royales» and other names.
double-headed only Dutch-style playing cards
14
Milan pattern
INFOBOXWith clear traces of lineage from the Lyon pattern. Rank names & indices intended mainly for Switzerland (Ticino).
double-headed only Milanese-style playing cards
23
Tuscan pattern
INFOBOXFormerly described as "small" Tuscan (or Florentine) pattern. Ended ∼1960.
single-headed only Tuscan-style playing cards
3
Florence pattern
INFOBOXFormerly described as "large" Florentine (or Tuscan) pattern; now "small" (or better, "new" Tuscan) pattern. Last regional full-length pattern in the French system.
single-headed only Florentine-style playing cards
15
Swedish pattern
INFOBOXSwedish national pattern.
double-headed only Swedish-style playing cards
21
Scandinavian pattern
INFOBOXScandinavia as a common circulation and cultural area.
double-headed only Scandinavian-style playing cards
5
Greek pattern
INFOBOXGreek national pattern, of French origin. Ended ∼1980.
double-headed only Greek-style playing cards
3
Portuguese pattern
INFOBOXDominant French-suited pattern in Portugal, of German origin.
double-headed only Portugese-style playing cards (French system)
3
«Adler-Cego» tarot pattern
INFOBOXCourt cards derive from a Frankfurt pattern. Here also: other tarots with animals.
court cards 'Adler-Cego' Tarot: court cards trump suit 'Adler-Cego' Tarot: the trumps
5
«Industrie und Gluck» tarot pattern
INFOBOXName refers to inscription on tarot No. II: varies or missing across times & places.
court cards 'Industrie und Glück' Tarot: court cards trump suit, type III 'Industrie und Glück' Tarot: the trumps (type III) trump suit, type IV 'Industrie und Glück' Tarot: the trumps (type IV) trump suit, type V 'Industrie und Glück' Tarot: the trumps (type V) trump suit, type VI 'Industrie und Glück' Tarot: the trumps (type VI)
24
«Bourgeois» tarot pattern
INFOBOXAlso known as "Nouveau" and "Encyclopédique"; «Cego» in Germany.
court cards 'Bourgeois' Tarot: court cards trump suit 'Bourgeois' Tarot: the trumps
18
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French-Suited Playing Cards: A Photographic Archive

A Gallery of Main National and Regional Playing Cards and Standard Tarot Decks

 
A Visual Archive of Standard Patterns
FRENCH-SUITED PLAYING CARDS | 1

LAST UPDATED: 16 SEP 2026

Selected deck:
Portrait Officiel en pied
INV 2708 | "Portrait Officiel", French national pack

Main conventional patterns
single-headed
double-headed
pattern name
Languedoc-style playing cards, restored
Languedoc pattern[PRE-19TH CENTURY]

Here, a restored version.
Languedoc pattern [1]
French-style playing cards, full-lenght figures
French-style playing cards
French national pattern

«Portrait officiel» & "export" versions.
French 1 [24] | French 2 [22]
International French-style playing cards
French international pattern

Also known as Belgian or Genoa pattern.
France, Belgium & other countries [34]
Italy (Genoese pattern) [14]
Piedmontese-style playing cards
Piedmont pattern

Light variant of the French double-headed pattern, horizontally divided, and others.
Piedmontese pattern & others [12]
Swiss Parisian-style playing cards
Swiss-Parisian pattern[ENDS ∼1900]

Swiss version of the French national pattern.
Swiss-Parisian pattern [1]
Geneva-style playing cars, full-lenght figures
Geneva-style playing cards
Geneva pattern[ENDS ∼1940]

Light variant of the Dauphiné pattern.
Geneva pattern [5]
Fribourg-style playing cards
Fribourg pattern[ENDS ∼1850]

Lyon export pattern. An excellent example of how full-length Viennese cards originally appeared.
Fribourg pattern [1]
Neuchâtel-style playing cards, full-lengh figures
Neuchâtel-style playing cards
Neuchatel pattern[ENDS ∼1940]

Lyon export pattern.
Neuchâtel pattern [6]
Viennese-style playing cards (type A)Viennese-style playing cards (type E)Viennese-style playing cards (type D)
Vienna pattern

Lyon export pattern.
Three types lasted into the 20th century (and beyond).
Viennese pattern [32]

  Type A
  Type E
  Type D
Lyon & Milan-style playing cards, full-lenght figures
Lyon & Milan-style playing cards, double headed
Lyon & (old) Milan patterns[ENDS ∼1925]

Directly derived from the "Lyon for Lyon" pattern.
Lyon & (old) Milanese patterns [3]
Belgian-style playing cardsBruxelles-style playing cards
Belgian patterns[ENDS ∼1920]

Belgian "cartes larges" & Brussels "cartes étroites" (narrow): both also "cartes marbrées" (marbled).
Belgian & Brussels patterns [6]

  Belgian pattern
  Brussels pattern
Liège-style playing cards
Liege pattern[ENDS ∼1900]

A Rouen export pattern.
Also known as «miners cards».
Liège pattern [3]
Rouen-style playing cards, restored
Rouen-style playing cards, hypothetical
Rouen pattern[PRE-19TH CENTURY]

The origin of the modern English pattern.
Here restored decks and modern derivations.
Rouen pattern [4]
English-style playing cards, full-lenght figures
English-style playing cards
English pattern[▶ EXTENDED PAGE]

This section is split into multiple parts.
Please refer to the extended page.
Mecklenburg-style playing cards
Mecklenburg pattern[ENDS ∼1900]

Rank names in French.
Mecklenburg pattern [2]
Berlin-style playing cards
Berlin pattern

German national pattern (in the French system).
Berlin 1 [37] | Berlin 2 [24]
Swiss-style playing cards (French system)
Swiss pattern

Swiss national pattern (in the French system).
Swiss pattern [35]
Russian-style playing cards
Russian pattern

Russian national pattern.
Russian pattern [8]
'Trente-et-Quarante' playing cards
«Trente-et-Quarante» pattern

A specific pattern for use in (some) European casinos.
"Trente-et-Quarante" pattern [7]
Frankfurt-style playing cards (type I)Frankfurt-style playing cards (type II)Frankfurt-style playing cards (type III)Frankfurt-style playing cards (type IV)'Cartes Belges' playing cards
Frankfurt patterns[ENDS ∼1935]

Several Frankfurt patterns & similar «cartes belges».
Still in production in «Adler-Cego» (tarot) format.
Frankfurt patterns & "Cartes Belges" [16]

  [Type I]
  [Type II]
  [Type III]
  [Type IV]
  "Cartes Belges"
Rhineland-style playing cards
Rhineland pattern

A Dondorf pattern that spread internationally.
Rhineland (or Dondorf) pattern [32]
Dutch-style playing cards
Dutch pattern

Formerly (until ∼1970) described as «Cartes Royales» and other names.
Dutch pattern [14]
Milanese-style playing cards
Milan pattern

With clear traces of lineage from the Lyon pattern. Rank names & indices intended mainly for Ticino.
Milanese pattern [23]
Tuscan-style playing cards
Tuscan pattern[ENDS ∼1960]

Formerly described as "small" Tuscan (or Florentine) pattern.
Tuscan pattern [3]
Florentine-style playing cards
Florence pattern

Formerly described as "large" Florentine (or Tuscan) pattern; now "small" (or "new" Tuscan) pattern.
Florentine (& new Tuscan) pattern [15]
Swedish-style playing cards
Swedish pattern

Swedish national pattern.
Swedish pattern [21]
Scandinavian-style playing cards
Scandinavian pattern

Scandinavia as a common circulation and cultural area.
Scandinavian pattern [5]
Greek-style playing cards
Greek pattern[ENDS ∼1980]

Greek national pattern, of French origin.
Greek pattern [3]
Portugese-style playing cards (French system)
Portuguese pattern

Dominant French-suited pattern in Portugal, of German origin.
Portuguese pattern [3]

Conventional tarot patterns
court cards
trump suit
pattern name
'Adler-Cego' Tarot: court cards
'Adler-Cego' Tarot: the trumps
«Adler-Cego» tarot pattern

Court cards derive from a Frankfurt pattern.
Here also: other tarots with animals.
"Adler-Cego" and others [5]
'Industrie und Glück' Tarot: court cards
'Industrie und Glück' Tarot: the trumps (type III)'Industrie und Glück' Tarot: the trumps (type IV)'Industrie und Glück' Tarot: the trumps (type V)'Industrie und Glück' Tarot: the trumps (type VI)
«Industrie und Gluck» tarot pattern

Name refers to inscription on tarot No. II: varies or missing across times & places.
"Industrie und Glück" tarot pattern [24]

Court cards Trumps type III (or A)
  Trumps type IV
  Trumps type V (or B)
  Trumps type VI (or C)
'Bourgeois' Tarot: court cards
'Bourgeois' Tarot: the trumps
«Bourgeois» tarot pattern

Also known as «Nouveau» and «Encyclopédique»; «Cego» in Germany.
"Bourgeois" tarot pattern [18]