Oracle Rock
Cartomantic set depicting rock and pop stars, designed by La Rata, with a book by Virginie Despentes.
Linking 54 different rock and pop musicians or groups to cartomantic subjects may seem like an impossible task but that is what the creators of this pack set out to do. Those creators were La Rata, a tattoo artist and illustrator, and Virginie Despentes, who wrote the accompanying text. Thus, Jimi Hendrix represents addiction (5S), Prince insolence (KD), Dolly Parton honest work (7H), Tina Turner serenity (really?!!) (AH), etc.
The cards themselves are striking: about twice normal size, coloured red, black and white only (with black backgrounds for the black suits and white backgrounds for the red suits), borderless, and with red metallic edges. They do not have titles; all is explained in the substantial book which includes images of all the cards plus two or more pages of text in French about each one. The key to the names of the rock stars depicted can be found on the publisher’s website: www.editions-tredaniel.com►
Above: Oracle Rock published by Guy Trédaniel, Paris, France, 2022. Printer unknown. 52 cards + 2 Jokers + 264-page book in French, in drop-lid box. Size: 90 x 128 mm. © 2022, Guy Trédaniel éditeur.
By Roddy Somerville
France • Member since May 31, 2022
Roddy started collecting stamps on his 8th birthday. In 1977 he joined the newly formed playing-card department at Stanley Gibbons in London before setting up his own business in Edinburgh four years later. His collecting interests include playing cards, postcards, stamps (especially playing cards on stamps) and sugar wrappers. He is a Past President of the Scottish Philatelic Society, a former Chairman of the IPCS, a Past Master of the Worshipful Company of Makers of Playing Cards and Curator of the WCMPC’s collection of playing cards. He lives near Toulouse in France.
Activity for Oracle Rock
Sign in to comment or save this article.
Related Articles
Jeu des 7 familles 7 époques
A Happy Families-type card game depicting 7 historical periods, with designs by Paul Durand.
David’s fortune-telling cards
Entertaining and easy-to-use fortune-telling cards published by David, Paris, c.1895.
Jeu Philatélique
Cards with French postage stamps featuring famous literary figures.
Le Jeu des Musiciens
Artist Silvia Maddonni’s gently humorous take on musicians and their instruments.
Les Tontons du Rock
Caricatures of rock and pop stars in black and white by Charles Da Costa.
Jeu des Copains
French popular singing stars of the 1960s.
Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte
Famous people associated with Nicolas Fouquet’s splendid château of Vaux-le-Vicomte.
Jeu de cartes des Opéras romantiques
Costumes from four operas premiered at the Paris Opera between 1830 and 1840.
Dandy Rock’n Bubble
56 rock and pop stars of the 1980s, issued in Denmark with bubble gum.
Le Jeu des 4 Opéras
Characters from five famous operas brought alive in artist Silvia Maddonni’s inimitable style.
Carmen playing cards
Characters and scenes from the 1984 film of Bizet’s most famous opera, Carmen.
Smash Hits playing cards
Pack of playing cards with pop stars offered free with the Smash Hits magazine.
Prophet Fortune Telling Cards
Prophet Fortune Telling Cards copyright and made by Thomas de la Rue & Co., 1933.
Jazz Legends playing cards
52 different photographs of famous jazz musicians.
Compagnie Industrielle des Téléphones
Publicity pack featuring various historical figures “on the ‘phone”.
KOOKAÏ
Playing cards promoting ready-to-wear outfits for women, produced by Compte-Fil, Nantes, France, 199...
Marie and Laurent’s Wedding
Wedding invitation and thank you card in the form of playing cards. France, 2019.
Alphonse Arnoult Spanish-suited pack
Luxurious Spanish-suited pack made by Alphonse Arnoult, Paris, France, c.1850.
Livre du Destin
Livre du Destin / The Book of Fate, c.1900, entire deck (32 cards)
Significado de los Naipes Españoles
Cartomantic meanings of Spanish playing cards by Benita the Witch (XVI century), published by Chocol...
Most Popular
Our top articles from the past 60 days
