Le Poker Politique
French politicians and various world leaders caricatured by the German artist Bubec.
Of the several packs with caricatures of heads of state and senior politicians by the German caricaturist known as Bubec (real name Lutz Backes, b. 1938), this is the only one created for the French market. The pack has French indices and includes five prominent French politicians of the period, namely Georges Marchais, François Mitterrand, Jacques Chirac, Raymond Barre and Valery Giscard d’Estaing. Two names are spelt incorrectly: George instead of Georges, and Mitterand instead of Mitterrand. On the Ace of Diamonds is Yuri Andropov (or Jurij Andropow) who died in February 1984, having led the Soviet Union for only about 15 months. Valery Giscard d’Estaing (Ace of Clubs) is depicted tripping over a diamond – a reference to the infamous “affaire des diamants” which almost certainly contributed to Giscard losing his 1981 bid for reelection.
Above: ‘Le Poker Politique’ with caricatures by Bubec, made by A.S.S., Leinfelden-Echterdingen, Germany, 1983. 52 cards + 2 Jokers + 1 title card in clear plastic box. Size: 57 x 89 mm.
The manufacturer’s logo appears on the 10 of Hearts. The back design is common to all the packs in this series.
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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