Revolutionary playing cards
Revolutionary playing cards with decapitated courts published by ATYPYK, Paris, 2010.
Amusing or somewhat gory? The reactions to this pack will differ. The designs are certainly atypical (hence the name of the publisher, ATYPYK). On early French Revolutionary playing cards the kings and queens lost their crowns – here they have lost their heads as well! However, these headless courts are based on standard English designs, not French ones. The King of Hearts who traditionally appears to be slicing through the back of his head probably provided the idea for this pack. The Jokers, though not identified, almost certainly show the two creators/publishers, Ivan Duval and Jean Sébastien Ides. Some of the severed heads “adorn” the tuck box. Not for the faint-hearted! See the box►
Above: English pattern designs with decapitated courts. Designed in Paris, made in Spain, published by ATYPYK, Paris, 2010. 52 cards + 2 Jokers in tuck box. Size: 63.5 x 88 mm.
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.
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