Grimaud - Ref. 104 - 48 Naypes Refinos

7/14/2026

Grimaud - Ref. 104 - 48 Naypes Refinos

Today we are looking at a deck manufactured in France by Grimaud, likely dating back to the second half of the 20th century. Released under reference number 104, and bearing the name 48 Naypes Refinos.

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The story behind this deck is fascinating, reaching far beyond a single standalone release to encompass an entire playing card ecosystem that developed across Morocco and Algeria.

For proper context, we must travel back to the early 19th century, when the Real Fábrica de Madrid created a variant of the Spanish National pattern tailored for export to France. This version introduced several departures from traditional designs, most notably a dog tied to a post on the 10 of Coins. This distinct variant eventually evolved into what became known as the Paris pattern—a subject we will explore in depth at a later date.

The artwork featured in this deck is attributed to Jean-Baptiste Camoin, who crafted these designs in the late 19th century specifically for export to North Africa. While he built upon the Paris pattern and preserved the core essence of the Spanish National style, Camoin introduced some changes to suit local tastes—most notably replacing the aforementioned dog with a goat tied to a tree. What began as somewhat rudimentary hand-drawn illustrations eventually evolved through a couple of redesigns into the version we see today, cementing a distinct variant known as the 'Moroccan' style.

Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, numerous French manufacturers produced and exported playing cards featuring this artwork to Morocco and Algeria. However, during the latter half of the 20th century, this supply steadily dwindled, driven in part by the closure of several makers. This void was quickly filled by local manufacturers, all bound by the use of these same designs. That tradition persists to this day, and it's not uncommon to come across these decks under names such as Maroc Cartes.

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The iconography remains faithful to the classic Spanish National pattern, and this deck exhibits several of its hallmark features, such as the forked tip on the 12 of Batons and the full-length robes of the Kings, which drape all the way down to the pintas.

Another noteworthy feature design-wise is the color scheme, limited only to yellow, red, and blue. Evenly distributed across all suits, these tones lend the entire set a singular and remarkably unified appearance—rendering it vibrant, visually impactful, and aesthetically pleasing. While this constraint defines its visual appeal, it poses a potential drawback for actual gameplay; the limited palette can cause slight confusion, requiring extra focus to distinguish between suits, though this may simply be a matter of familiarity.

The cards are printed on thick cardstock, making them slightly stiffer than what I would call ideal. Nonetheless, their mild gloss finish lends them an elegant appearance. The handling is initially somewhat poor, but I noticed a gradual improvement after a few games—even if it never quite reaches what could be considered an optimal glide.

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APPENDICES: Similar Editions and Variants.

As this artwork became a widespread standard with numerous reproductions and variants, I will be publishing other decks that share this style as appendices to this review. This entry will serve as the primary reference point for history, context, and general description. The list below will be updated with direct links as they are added to the archive: