Translucent Playing Cards

Translucent playing cards, when held up to the light, reveal a secret image depicting amorous sensuality printed on the middle layer of the pasteboard. These cards became popular in mid-19th century France. It can be noted that the postures of the court cards, superficially presented in classical poses, allow for hidden imagery to be incorporated, sometimes involving nuns. In this example, only the numeral cards contain hidden images as the court cards are not translucent. The hidden images vary from romantic to mildly erotic to pornographic.

Above: Translucent playing cards, French, c.1870. A reproduction of this deck was published by Pieter Meffert Antiquariaat, Amsterdam, 1979, as “Erotic Playing Cards from the Biedermeier Period”. Images courtesy Charles Smythe.