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Playing cards have been with us since the 14th century, when they first entered popular culture. Over the centuries packs of cards, in all shapes and sizes, have been used for games, gambling, education, conjuring, advertising, fortune telling, political messages or the portrayal of national or ethnic identity. All over the world, whatever language is spoken, their significance is universal. Their popularity is also due to the imaginative artwork and graphic design which is sometimes overlooked, and the “then & now” of how things have changed.

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pin-up

25 Articles

Feminine beauty has been appreciated since prehistory.

Read more about pin-up

The Art of Pin-Up decks

Feminine beauty has been appreciated since prehistory.

The Art of Pin-Up decks

Vargas Girls

‘Vargas Girls’ paintings by Alberto Vargas in a deck of cards published by Creative Playing Card Co Missouri.

Vargas Girls

The Art of Pin-Up decks

Feminine beauty has been appreciated since prehistory.

The Art of Pin-Up decks

Portraits of a Lady

Portraits of a Lady by Lo Scarabeo, 2003.

Portraits of a Lady

Pin-up deck no.5513

Celebrity Pin-up deck no.5513 by unknown publisher.

Pin-up deck no.5513

Pulp Pin-Up

Classic 1940s Pulp Pin-Up covers on playing cards from China, c.2010.

Pulp Pin-Up

Römihártya

Römihártya pin-up deck from Hungary.

Römihártya

Eroticartes

Eroticartes with drawings by Pino Zac, 1983.

Eroticartes

Baby Dolls

Baby Dolls pinup deck designed by Willy Mayrl, published by Piatnik, 1957.

Baby Dolls

Darling

Darling pin-up playing cards designed by Heinz Villiger, c.1950s-60s.

Darling

Römihártya Játékkartyagyár

Pin-up Rummy Playing Cards, made in Hungary, c.1970.

Römihártya Játékkartyagyár

Bathing Beauties

Bathing Beauties throughout the ages, published in Hungary, 1967.

Bathing Beauties

Tease Me

‘Tease Me’ 1960s glamour pack.

Tease Me

54 Pin-up Motivs

Hungarian pin-up deck illustrated by Imre Sebök, c.1960.

54 Pin-up Motivs

Chérie

Chérie No 7022 designed by Hans & Louise Neupert, nice vibrant artwork, swinging 60s

Chérie

Mayall Press Art Studies

Photographic playing cards - each face having an "art study" of a female nude, Mayall Press, Stockwell, London, c.1946.

Mayall Press Art Studies

What the Butler Saw

“What the Butler Saw” playing cards depicting tasteful photography of the female body.

What the Butler Saw

Hollywood Stars

Hollywood Stars by Maple Leaf B.V., Amsterdam, 1957

Hollywood Stars

DC Comic Bombshells

Stylish playing cards featuring the glamorous, superpowered female stars of the alternate reality world of DC Comics, published by 'Forbidden Planet', 2015

DC Comic Bombshells

Olivia’s Lucky Ladies

“Olivia’s Lucky Ladies” glamour model playing cards produced by Ozone Productions Ltd, USA, 2004

Olivia’s Lucky Ladies

Playboy Fragrances, 2010

In 2010 Playboy Fragrances (Coty) released a 'gaming' set promotion comprising two decks of identical cards, one set of five dice and poker chips.

Playboy Fragrances, 2010

Shapely

“Shapely” non-standard adult playing cards manufactured by Angel Playing Cards Co., Japan, 1980

Shapely

Paparazzi Pin-up Deck

Pin-up deck given free with Paparazzi magazine, 2005

Paparazzi Pin-up Deck

Glorious Colección 1995

Spanish-suited playing cards featuring the ‘Glorious’ ladies swimwear collection for 1995, designed by Estudio Fileni/Mendióroz.

Glorious Colección 1995

Hard-a-Port

Tobacco insert cards were a very successful marketing innovation which started in the nineteenth century.

Hard-a-Port

Axe Deodorant

Clearly promoting good personal hygiene, each card shows a young, pouting female model posing seductively and appealing to the playboy.

Axe Deodorant