Le Giscarte
Le Giscarte political playing cards designed by Eddy Munerol, France, 1976.
Designed by Eddy Munerol and published in 1976 by Editions Arts et Lettres, Nancy, this pack is subtitled “XX siecles d’histoire de France au travers d’un seul homme, en 54 cartes a jouer” (“20 centuries of French history through a single man, in 54 playing cards”). It features biting, satirical images of former French President Valery Giscard d’Estaing (1926-2020), in the guises of the great men and women of French history (e.g. Napoleon III, Catherine de’ Medici, Madame de Pompadour, Louis XVI, Marie-Antoinette). Although the subtitle refers to 54 cards, the pack consists of 52 cards, plus 3 Jokers, plus an extra information card.
The pack was published during the period of Giscard d’Estaing’s Presidency (1974-1981) and was banned as “offensive”. The ban was upheld by the court, and so had to be withdrawn from sale. See the box►
Above: Le Giscarte political playing cards designed by Eddy Munerol and published in 1976 by Editions Arts et Lettres, Nancy, France.
Reference
Fournier Museum, Playing Cards II, France no. 528.
By Peter Burnett
United Kingdom • Member since July 27, 2022
I graduated in Russian and East European Studies from Birmingham University in 1969. It was as an undergraduate in Moscow in 1968 that I stumbled upon my first 3 packs of “unusual” playing cards which fired my curiosity and thence my life-long interest. I began researching and collecting cards in the early 1970s, since when I’ve acquired over 3,330 packs of non-standard cards, mainly from North America, UK and Western Europe, and of course from Russia and the former communist countries.
Following my retirement from the Bodleian Library in Dec. 2007 I took up a new role as Head of Library Development at the International Network for the Availability of Scientific Publications (INASP) to support library development in low-income countries. This work necessitated regular training visits to many sub-Saharan African countries and also further afield, to Vietnam, Nepal and Bangladesh – all of which provided rich opportunities to further expand my playing card collection.
Since 2019 I’ve been working part-time in the Bodleian Library where I’ve been cataloguing the bequest of the late Donald Welsh, founder of the English Playing Card Society.
Activity for Le Giscarte
Sign in to comment or save this article.
Related Articles
The Five of Hearts
A political hand badly played: Admiral Byng and the satire of failure, c.1756.
Cartes à jouer républicaines
Political cards engraved by Gaillard in Lyon during the Franco-Prussian War and the birth of the Thi...
Jeu Révolutionnaire
Court cards and aces from a French Revolutionary pack by Pinaut, Paris, c.1794.
Cartes politiques : Jeu d'actualité
Political playing cards published by Grimaud et Chartier, Paris, 1872.
Jeu de la Vme
A political pack designed by Pino Zac and published in 1977 by Editions Arts et Lettres.
K Deck
“K Deck” political playing cards, USA, c. 2004.
B-Deck
“B-Deck” scurrilous playing cards poking fun at a former UK prime minister.
Jeanne d’Arc, “La pucelle d’Orléans”
Joan of Arc and her contemporaries in a colourful pack designed by Patrice Louis.
Révolution 1789-1989
Révolution 1789-1989, celebrating the bicentenary of the French revolution, France, 1989
Spanish 19th century Political pack
Satirical playing cards manufactured by Francar y Cía depicting political situation.
WW2 German Propaganda Playing Cards
showing satirical portraits of Allied leaders and politicians
Kennedy Kards
‘Kennedy Kards’ playing cards with satirical portrayals of the Kennedy clan, USA, 1963
Le Régime Bush
“Le Régime Bush” anti-war playing cards designed by Thierry Meyssan, France, 2003.
Anti-Fascist cards, 1943
Satirical Anti-Fascist cards designed in 1943 by Ivan Ivanovich Kharkevich.
The Great Storm
The Great Storm, Israel, 2003
Back to the USSR
Back to the USSR deck featuring communist party leaders and politicians, c.1995
Glorious Russia
‘Glorious Russia’ playing cards made in France by Grimaud, c.1995
Cartes à Rire
Transformed playing cards featuring satirical caricatures of political figures then in the ascendant...
Cartes Imperiales et Royales
‘Cartes Imperiales et Royales’ published by B. P. Grimaud & Cie representing imperial rulers and con...
Mr Punch’s Playing Cards
Mr Punch’s Playing Cards, 1896.
Most Popular
Our top articles from the past 60 days
