Amorous Translucent Playing Cards

During the 18th and 19th centuries romantic “Love Motto” or proverbial packs, depicting amorous couples with rhyming couplets or fortunes printed beneath, were a popular entertainment [see Georgian Fortune-Telling; Baraja del Amor]. However, during the 19th century in France translucent playing cards with hidden, but more explicit, amorous scenes became the rage. The hidden image becomes visible when a card is held up to the light.

The cards are enclosed in a case which clips shut (click to zoom) →

The Court Cards

Royal figures - Kings, Queens and Jacks - are depicted in innocent poses. There is no information regarding the actual manufacturers or when exactly they were made, but they tend to be from around the mid-19th century.

The Hidden Images

When held up to a light hidden images of an amorous nature can be seen. In the example shown here one card has been scorched by someone viewing too closely in front of a candle. Unfortunately the five of clubs is missing and the six of diamonds has a small candle burn at the top (shown to right).

Above: translucent pack of French 1850 cards. Stencil coloured. The size of the cards is 87mm by 55mm. The reverse is blank. All images courtesy Alex Lamont.

The Romans also enjoyed pornographic imagery...

There is, of course, nothing new in depictions of erotic incidents, real or imaginary, sometimes involving prostitutes or even animals, and these have been discovered on domestic items such as lamps, and on mural paintings in Roman dwellings, for example , as well as in Greek and Roman sculpture and literature.

Above: erotic scene from Roman mural painting. Image from Museo Nacional de Arte Romano, Mérida.