‘Mémoires de Casanova’, c.1960
Mémoires de Casanova luxury artistic and lightly risqué playing cards with miniature paintings by Paul-Émile Bécat, published by Éditions Philibert, Paris, c.1960. Paul-Émile Bécat (1885–1960) was a French painter, printmaker and engraver who is best known for his portraits of French writers, and for his erotic works. Becat began specializing in erotic art quite late in his career, during the 1930s. Before then his focus was mostly on portraits and not-so-erotic literature. The number cards display women alone, while the courts and Aces display men and women. The images in the court cards are reversible so every royal card has two interpretations depending on which way up you hold them that seamlessly flow into one another.
Above: Mémoires de Casanova artistic and lightly risqué playing cards with paintings by Paul-Émile Bécat, published by Éditions Philibert, Paris, c.1960. . Images courtesy Barney Townshend.
By Barney Townshend
Member since October 06, 2015
View ArticlesRetired Airline Pilot, interested in: Transformation Playing Cards, Karl Gerich and Elaine Lewis. Secretary of the EPCS. Treasurer of the IPCS.
Recommended
The Art of Pin-Up decks
Feminine beauty has been appreciated since prehistory.
Eroticartes
Eroticartes with drawings by Pino Zac, 1983.
Tease Me
‘Tease Me’ 1960s glamour pack.
54 Pin-up Motivs
Hungarian pin-up deck illustrated by Imre Sebök, c.1960.
Amorous Translucent Playing Cards
Amorous Translucent Playing Cards, French, c.1850.
El Tripero
Hand-drawn semi-erotic, satirical playing cards by Lautaro Fiszman ‘El Tripero’, 2002.
Translucent Playing Cards
Translucent Playing Cards, 19th century French from the Biedermeier period
Mayall Press Art Studies
Photographic playing cards - each face having an "art study" of a female nude, Mayall Press, Stockwell, London, c.1946.
What the Butler Saw
“What the Butler Saw” playing cards depicting tasteful photography of the female body.
Translucent Playing Cards
Translucent Playing Cards made by an unknown maker, c.1850
Olivia’s Lucky Ladies
“Olivia’s Lucky Ladies” glamour model playing cards produced by Ozone Productions Ltd, USA, 2004
Shapely
“Shapely” non-standard adult playing cards manufactured by Angel Playing Cards Co., Japan, 1980
Japanese Women
Japanese Women playing cards in an idealised and erotic style by Keiichi Takasawa (1914-1984).
Hafez Fortune Telling Cards
Fortune Tellers use the Hafez Cards by interpreting the Hāfez poems printed on the card backs when cards are selected randomly by their consultants.
Éditions Philibert
Éditions Philibert published an outstanding series of exotic, artistic playing cards in Paris from 1954 to 1960
Le Florentin
Éditions Philibert published playing cards in Paris from 1954 to 1960 including Le Florentin in Renaissance style.
Mémoires de Casanova
Mémoires de Casanova artistic and lightly risqué playing cards with paintings by Paul-Émile Bécat, published by Éditions Philibert, Paris, c.1960.
Translucent Erotic Playing Cards, page 2
Translucent Erotic Playing Cards, page 2
Translucent Playing Cards, c.1850
Cards from a translucent pack. Erotic images are concealed in the middle layer of the card and become visible when held up to a light.