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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.

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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.

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