What the Butler Saw

Published October 12, 2016 Updated December 05, 2021

“What the Butler Saw” playing cards depicting tasteful photography of the female body.

United KingdomEroticaPhotographyPin-up

“What the Butler Saw” vintage playing cards depicting tastefully airbrushed photography of female models in various poses. The back shows a cartoon drawing of a butler and an 'End of Pier' machine with his thumb up. The cards come in a plain box

“What the Butler Saw” playing cards
“What the Butler Saw” playing cards “What the Butler Saw” playing cards

Above: “What the Butler Saw” playing cards, probably late 1950s or early ’60s, 52 cards + 2 jokers in box.

avatar
308 Articles

By Matt Probert

United Kingdom • Member since March 02, 2012

I have adored playing cards since before I was seven years old, and was brought up on packs of Waddington's No 1. As a child I was fascinated by the pictures of the court cards.

Over the next fifty years I was seduced by the artwork in Piatnik's packs and became a collector of playing cards.

Seeking more information about various unidentified packs I discovered the World of Playing Cards website and became an enthusiastic contributor researching and documenting different packs of cards.

I describe my self as a playing card archaeologist, using detective work to identify and date obscure packs of cards discovered in old houses, flea markets and car boot sales.

Related Articles

1985 Agent Provocateur

Agent Provocateur

Branded lingerie collection in a pack of pin-up playing cards.

2010 Pin-Ups

Pin-Ups

A deck of 55 cards celebrating a golden age of cheeky, naughty, bold and curvy ladies in film.

Empics playing cards

Empics playing cards

Photography from the UK and around the world, past and present.

2005 Lascivious playing cards

Lascivious playing cards

Lascivious lingerie playing cards, United Kingdom, c.2005

2011 The Deck of Cards

The Deck of Cards

‘The Deck of Cards ’ by Ben Yates, United Kingdom, 2011.

The Art of Pin-Up decks

The Art of Pin-Up decks

Feminine beauty has been appreciated since prehistory.

2021 Crocheter’s Playing Cards

Crocheter’s Playing Cards

Crocheter’s playing cards sent to subscribers of the Crochet Society box, 2021.

Splash Page Special

Splash Page Special

Splash Page Special party card game.

1960 Tease Me

Tease Me

‘Tease Me’ 1960s glamour pack.

1987 Scottish Picture Playing Cards

Scottish Picture Playing Cards

Scottish Picture Playing Cards featuring photographs by Colin Baxter.

1946 Mayall Press Art Studies

Mayall Press Art Studies

Photographic playing cards - each face having an "art study" of a female nude, Mayall Press, Stockwe...

1990 Bath and the Cotswolds

Bath and the Cotswolds

“Bath and the Cotswolds” souvenir pack of cards published by John McLean of Edinburgh, c.1990.

2015 DC Comic Bombshells

DC Comic Bombshells

Stylish playing cards featuring the glamorous, superpowered female stars of the alternate reality wo...

2004 Prime Arts

Prime Arts

Prime Arts Playing Cards were published in 2004 featuring the work of contemporary artists, illustra...

2004 Olivia’s Lucky Ladies

Olivia’s Lucky Ladies

“Olivia’s Lucky Ladies” glamour model playing cards produced by Ozone Productions Ltd, USA, 2004

Legendary Land’s End

Legendary Land’s End

“Legendary Land’s End” deck by John Hinde showing photographic views of Land’s End, Cornwall (UK)

1990 Theakston Brewery

Theakston Brewery

Theakston Brewery advertising playing cards depicting old brewing traditions, tools and skills, desi...

Tax Payers’ Alliance

Tax Payers’ Alliance

The Tax Payers’ Alliance Political Trumps was first produced in 2007.

1980 Shapely

Shapely

“Shapely” non-standard adult playing cards manufactured by Angel Playing Cards Co., Japan, 1980

2014 Perthshire Playing Cards

Perthshire Playing Cards

Perthshire Playing Cards with photography by Duncan McEwan, 2014.