This is another at-first-sight-quite-unremarkable promotional Tour De France-related card deck. As I wrote elsewhere, my limit is (or should be) in decks in which only the back of the cards is cycling-themed. Even if I do not always strictly follow my own rules (the flesh is weak...), I admit I did not think much of this deck when I first saw it, and I did not try to purchase it, however easy it was (and still is) to find it on your favourite auction site.

 

However, I recently saw a picture of the court carts, and, of course, I changed my mind instantly. This fine example of French-suited playing cards of the so-called Paris pattern, complete with the historical/mythical personage names commonly associated with that pattern (which never fail to surprise non-French card players), is cycling-themed indeed, though quite anachronically to say the least, and does deserve a place in this collection.

 

Sample of court cards

Joker, back of cards, instructions