Virginia Slims
Tasteful advertising pack promoting Virginia Slims cigarettes.
Virginia Slims cigarettes were introduced in 1968 to appeal to female smokers. They were narrower and longer than normal cigarettes. In this pack there are no images of cigarettes per se but all the court cards depict female figures in historical costume (one model per suit), partially framed by decorative scrollwork in two corners. The same decorative elements appear on the Aces and pip cards. The Jokers have been replaced by “VS” (Virginia Slims) cards, two being moustachioed male jesters and one carrying text. On the back, the phrase “You’ve come a long way, baby” is repeated many times diagonally. See the box►
Above: Virginia Slims cigarettes promotion deck made by USPC Co. for Philip Morris Inc., USA, 1985. 52 cards + 3 “VS” cards in tuck box. Size: 63 x 88 mm.
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.
Activity for Virginia Slims
Sign in to comment or save this article.
Related Articles
More Menthol Filter Cigarettes
Elongated cards with designs by Wong Yui Man advertising More cigarettes.
Junior Playing Cards
Child-friendly versions of standard English pattern cards designed by Louie Mantia, Jr.
Animal Kingdom
Crafted by Hatch Design and benefitting the World Wildlife Fund, animal heads replace the traditiona...
Historic Early Aviation
Reproductions of cigarette cards from 1910 on the subject of the early days of aviation.
Neiman Marcus playing cards
Cowboys and American Indians on a pack for Neiman Marcus, the Dallas department store.
Into space and back
A NASA experiment to test a new inflammable material for playing cards.
Seaboard Air Line Railway souvenir playing cards
Seaboard Air Line Railway souvenir playing cards made by USPC Co., USA, c1910.
Hulk playing cards
Issued to coincide with the release in 2003 of the American superhero film, The Hulk.
Politipack ’88 playing cards
Politipack ’88 produced by Robert Billingsley, USA, 1988.
Playboy playing cards
52 different magazine covers from the first 50 years of Playboy.
Wild West playing cards
Famous lawmen, gamblers, outlaws and others from the American Wild West.
Bicycle Tragic Royalty
Modified courts rendered tragic and somewhat scary.
Queen High Equality Deck
A women’s liberation deck described as “A New Deck For A New Deal”.
Helmsley Hotels
Publicity pack for the Harley and Helmsley Hotels, U.S.A., c.1986.
Coricidin Demilets
Coricidin Demilets pharmaceutical playing cards, 1967.
Atlantic Playing Card Co
Atlantic Playing Card Co., Inc. promoted Bridge Ensemble boxes and companion accessories.
No.500 Playing Cards
No.500 Playing Cards published by U.S.P.C.C., c.1910
Monarch Bicycle
The company advertised themselves as “The Monarch King of all Cycles” with the lion's head motif ins...
Norwood #85, c.1909
The deck features a colourful Ace of Spades and Joker, decorated Aces, unique courts and two beautif...
The United States Playing Card Company
Over the years the pressures of competition and other market forces have led to many smaller manufac...
Most Popular
Our top articles from the past 60 days
