The World of Playing Cards Logo

Translucent Playing Cards

Published March 02, 2018 Updated October 03, 2024

Translucent Playing Cards, 19th century French from the Biedermeier period

1870 France Erotica Translucent

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.

Translucent Playing Cards, 19th century French Translucent Playing Cards, 19th century French Translucent Playing Cards, 19th century French Translucent Playing Cards, 19th century French
Translucent Playing Cards, 19th century French
Translucent Playing Cards, 19th century French
Translucent Playing Cards, 19th century French

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

Another example

In Greek and Roman times eroticism was more freely expressed. India gave us the Kama Sutra. But then it underwent restraint or repression through the middle ages and puritanical times. Erotic playing cards reappeared during the XIX century and translucent cards around the middle of the century. In some examples from this genre, the hidden imagery in the translucent playing card can be more sensual or lewd, as in the example below. The illustrations have nothing to do with the value of the card in the game.

Translucent Playing Cards, 19th century French

Another example

Above: similar cards in the Turnhout Playing Card Museum in Belgium give a suggested date of (1825-1848), made in the Biedermeier workshop.

avatar
1,473 Articles

By Simon Wintle

Member since February 01, 1996

Founder and editor of the World of Playing Cards since 1996. He is a former committee member of the IPCS and was graphics editor of The Playing-Card journal for many years. He has lived at various times in Chile, England and Wales and is currently living in Extremadura, Spain. Simon's first limited edition pack of playing cards was a replica of a seventeenth century traditional English pack, which he produced from woodblocks and stencils.

Related Articles

1860 Catalan pattern by B.P Grimaud

Catalan pattern by B.P Grimaud

Standard Spanish Catalan pattern deck made in Paris by B.P Grimaud.

1872 Cartes politiques : Jeu d'actualité

Cartes politiques : Jeu d'actualité

Political playing cards published by Grimaud et Chartier, Paris, 1872.

1983 Le Poker Politique

Le Poker Politique

French politicians and various world leaders caricatured by the German artist Bubec.

1630 Swiss playing cards by Iehan Hemau

Swiss playing cards by Iehan Hemau

17th century Swiss-suited playing cards by Iehan Hemau of Épinal.

1988 SCOR playing cards

SCOR playing cards

Bizarre and fantastical images by the artist Roland Topor for the SCOR reinsurance company.

Archaic Franco-Spanish pattern

Archaic Franco-Spanish pattern

Archaic Franco-Spanish pattern by Guillaume & Jean Grossard (Bordeaux).

1972 Les Jeux de Pastor

Les Jeux de Pastor

Striking designs by Edouard Pastor focusing on the heads of figures from the medieval period.

1971 Le Jeu des Personnages de l’Antiquité et du Moyen-Age

Le Jeu des Personnages de l’Antiquité et du Moyen-Age

Edouard Pastor’s designs in black and gold inspired by Antiquity and the Middle Ages.

Rouen Pattern  - Portrait Rouennais

Rouen Pattern - Portrait Rouennais

An attractive XV century French-suited design from Rouen became the standard English & Anglo-America...

1708 Archaic Spanish proof sheets

Archaic Spanish proof sheets

2 x uncoloured proof sheets of archaic Spanish-suited playing cards produced for “New Spain”, possib...

1880 English Pattern by B.P. Grimaud

English Pattern by B.P. Grimaud

Standard English pattern published by B.P. Grimaud with engraving by F. Simon, c.1880.

1965 Jeu de Tarot (Catel & Farcy)

Jeu de Tarot (Catel & Farcy)

Colourful version of a standard French (‘Bourgeois’) Tarot.

1972 Smith-Corona Marchant

Smith-Corona Marchant

Simplified yet colourful court card designs by Avoine for Smith-Corona Marchant.

1975 Redrawn French pattern (Héron)

Redrawn French pattern (Héron)

Redrawn French pattern retaining traditional elements.

1965 7 Familles Le Manège Enchanté

7 Familles Le Manège Enchanté

The Magic Roundabout characters on a jeu de 7 familles designed by James Hodges.

2024 Paris 2024 Olympics 3

Paris 2024 Olympics 3

Paris Games mascot Phryge engaged in different sports in a Happy Families-type game.