54 Pin-up Motivs
Hungarian pin-up deck illustrated by Imre Sebök, c.1960.
‘54 Different Pin-up Motivs’ playing cards illustrated by Imre Sebök
Imre Sebök (1906-1980) was a respected Hungarian painter, graphic artist, book illustrator and was one of the first Hungarian comic artists. In addition to producing illustrations for newspapers and fiction works he also illustrated magazines, posters and this deck of playing cards featuring 53 paintings of lusty female figures. Although rather blurry, Sebök’s signature is visible on most cards.
Above: ‘54 Different Pin-up Motivs’ playing cards illustrated by Imre Sebök, manufacturted by Játékkártyagyár és Nyomda (Hungarian playing card factory also known as ‘Artex’ brand for exports), c.1960.
By Rex Pitts (1940-2021)
Member since January 30, 2009
View ArticlesRex's main interest was in card games, because, he said, they were cheap and easy to get hold of in his early days of collecting. He is well known for his extensive knowledge of Pepys games and his book is on the bookshelves of many.
His other interest was non-standard playing cards. He also had collections of sheet music, music CDs, models of London buses, London Transport timetables and maps and other objects that intrigued him.
Rex had a chequered career at school. He was expelled twice, on one occasion for smoking! Despite this he trained as a radio engineer and worked for the BBC in the World Service.
Later he moved into sales and worked for a firm that made all kinds of packaging, a job he enjoyed until his retirement. He became an expert on boxes and would always investigate those that held his cards. He could always recognize a box made for Pepys, which were the same as those of Alf Cooke’s Universal Playing Card Company, who printed the card games. This interest changed into an ability to make and mend boxes, which he did with great dexterity. He loved this kind of handicraft work.
His dexterity of hand and eye soon led to his making card games of his own design. He spent hours and hours carefully cutting them out and colouring them by hand.
Leave a Reply
Recommended
Vargas Girls
‘Vargas Girls’ paintings by Alberto Vargas in a deck of cards published by Creative Playing Card Co Missouri.
The Art of Pin-Up decks
Feminine beauty has been appreciated since prehistory.
Portraits of a Lady
Portraits of a Lady by Lo Scarabeo, 2003.
Pin-up deck no.5513
Celebrity Pin-up deck no.5513 by unknown publisher.
Pulp Pin-Up
Classic 1940s Pulp Pin-Up covers on playing cards from China, c.2010.
Römihártya
Römihártya pin-up deck from Hungary.
Eroticartes
Eroticartes with drawings by Pino Zac, 1983.
Baby Dolls
Baby Dolls pin-up deck designed by Willy Mayrl, published by Piatnik, 1957.
Darling
Darling pin-up playing cards designed by Heinz Villiger, c.1950s-60s.
Persian Miniatures
Persian Miniatures, made in Hungary c.1990.
Römihártya Játékkartyagyár
Pin-up Rummy Playing Cards, made in Hungary, c.1970.
Hungarian Drinking Skat
Hungarian Drinking Skat, c.2004.
Tell Wilmoś
Facsimile of ‘Wilhelm Tell’ Hungarian deck by Salamon Antal, Keczkemét, 1860.
Bathing Beauties
Bathing Beauties throughout the ages, published in Hungary, 1967.
Tease Me
‘Tease Me’ 1960s glamour pack.
54 Pin-up Motivs
Hungarian pin-up deck illustrated by Imre Sebök, c.1960.
Amorous Translucent Playing Cards
Amorous Translucent Playing Cards, French, c.1850.
El Tripero
Hand-drawn semi-erotic, satirical playing cards by Lautaro Fiszman ‘El Tripero’, 2002.
Translucent Playing Cards
Translucent Playing Cards, 19th century French from the Biedermeier period
Dvouhlavé Hrací Karty
“Dvouhlavé Hrací Karty” (Czech Seasons playing cards) made by Obchodní Tiskárny, c.1980.
Chérie
Chérie No 7022 designed by Hans & Louise Neupert, nice vibrant artwork, swinging 60s
Mayall Press Art Studies
Photographic playing cards - each face having an "art study" of a female nude, Mayall Press, Stockwell, London, c.1946.
What the Butler Saw
“What the Butler Saw” playing cards depicting tasteful photography of the female body.
Translucent Playing Cards
Translucent Playing Cards made by an unknown maker, c.1850
Hollywood Stars
Hollywood Stars by Maple Leaf B.V., Amsterdam, 1957
DC Comic Bombshells
Stylish playing cards featuring the glamorous, superpowered female stars of the alternate reality world of DC Comics, published by 'Forbidden Planet', 2015
Ronia Genoese Pattern
‘Ronia’ Genoese Pattern made in Hungary for the Dutch market, c.1970
Olivia’s Lucky Ladies
“Olivia’s Lucky Ladies” glamour model playing cards produced by Ozone Productions Ltd, USA, 2004
Playboy Fragrances, 2010
In 2010 Playboy Fragrances (Coty) released a 'gaming' set promotion comprising two decks of identical cards, one set of five dice and poker chips.
Tarok c.1900
Piatnik & Söhne “Industrie und Glück” Tarok c.1905-1910.
Turkey
Artex A/30 brand for Turkey, 1980s.
Shapely
“Shapely” non-standard adult playing cards manufactured by Angel Playing Cards Co., Japan, 1980
Japanese Women
Japanese Women playing cards in an idealised and erotic style by Keiichi Takasawa (1914-1984).
Magyar Kártya No.123
Luxus No.123 Hungarian seasons pattern manufactured in Hungary by the Playing-Card Factory and Printing House, c.1970.
Gdynia-America Line
Non-standard playing cards produced by Artex (Budapest) for the Gdynia-America Line, Poland, c.1958.
Artex Quadrilato for Tunisia
Artex Quadrilato No.333 for Tunisia
Artex No.111
No.111 by Artex is a copy of Waddingtons standard designs, c1962.
Austrian Cartomancy Cards
During the 19th century a system of fortune telling arose in Europe using unnumbered, pictorial cards depicting popular imagery with subtitles in several languages.
Hafez Fortune Telling Cards
Fortune Tellers use the Hafez Cards by interpreting the Hāfez poems printed on the card backs when cards are selected randomly by their consultants.
Paparazzi Pin-up Deck
Pin-up deck given free with Paparazzi magazine, 2005