Voutch
Comic designs by the French artist Olivier Vouktchevitch.
Voutch (real name Olivier Vouktchevitch, b. 1958) worked in advertising agencies but in 1995 began to have his humorous drawings published in magazines such as Playboy, Madame Figaro, Lui, etc. He acknowledges that he follows in the footsteps of French cartoonist Sempé (1932-2022), co-creator of Le Petit Nicolas. His human creations characteristically have elongated heads and bodies, and long or broad noses, as in this pack. Colour is also important in his work. Each of the court cards tells a story and needs to be viewed from both ends. Decorated Aces. There are a few extra touches on some of the pip cards. See the box►
Above: playing cards with comic designs published by Voutch (Olivier Vouktchevitch), maker unknown (possibly France Cartes), France, date unknown but after 2013. 52 cards + 2 Jokers + 1 extra card in tuck box. Size: 63 x 88 mm. © VOUTCH.
The extra card lists the comics (bandes dessinées in French) in which his work has appeared, including those for children. Cherche midi is a publisher. La galerie de Dominique must be where you can buy some of his work in the form of postcards, posters, etc.
By Roddy Somerville
France • Member since May 31, 2022 • Contact
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.
Related Articles
Redrawn French pattern (Héron)
Redrawn French pattern retaining traditional elements.
Holidays – les côtes françaises
Holiday destinations around the French coast as depicted by Pauline Launay.
Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte
Famous people associated with Nicolas Fouquet’s splendid château of Vaux-le-Vicomte.
Compagnie Maritime des Chargeurs Réunis
French navigators and explorers on a promotional pack for the C.M.C.R shipping company.
Costumes Alsaciens
Typical costumes and views of Alsace together with lists of the principal sights.
Jeu de cartes des Opéras romantiques
Costumes from four operas premiered at the Paris Opera between 1830 and 1840.
Cartavi
Promotional pack for AVI paints, with 54 different colours on the backs.
Les Chemins de Saint-Jacques
Paintings, statues, monuments and maps associated with different routes to Compostela.
The story behind some special Jokers
How the “Gibbons” Jokers came into being.
Paris pattern by Leclaire of Paris
Standard designs from a little-known Parisian maker.
Paris pattern variant from Lyon, c1900
Updated courts retaining elements of a standard French pack by C. Gerentes, Lyon.
Compagnie Industrielle des Téléphones
Publicity pack featuring various historical figures “on the ‘phone”.
Jeu de Cartes Éclats
A kaleidoscope of form and colour encapsulated in a contemporary pack of playing cards.
French External Trade Organization
Promoting the elegance and quality of a range of French products.
Le Jeu Sétois
A celebration of the town of Sète and its famous water jousting tournaments.
Disneyland Paris
Disney characters deck from Euro Disney, Marne la Vallée, France, c.2000.
Revolutionary playing cards
Revolutionary playing cards with decapitated courts published by ATYPYK, Paris, 2010.
Marie and Laurent’s Wedding
Wedding invitation and thank you card in the form of playing cards. France, 2019.
Vivacidol
Advertising pack for Vivacidol pharmaceutical product, France, c.1960s.
Jeu de 54 cartes
Jeu de 54 cartes, completely anonymous, designed to resemble locally produced French packs.
Most Popular
Our top articles from the past 60 days
