Translucent Erotic Playing Cards
[France]: [Unknown publisher], [c. 1840-1880].
A suggestive set of translucent erotic playing cards likely created in France in the mid-19th century. Set consists of 35 hand-colored playing cards, 32 of which are from around 1840, featuring 11 court cards (3.25 x 2.25"), and three slightly larger cards (3.5 x 2.5") possibly from the late Victorian period. Housed in a much earlier handmade late-18th century sliding box (4.5 x 2.75") made from thin plywood with pasted decorative paper, wrapped in voided velvet and trimmed with gold and silver metal silk woven ribbon. They were once a part of The Stuart and Marilyn Kaplan Playing Card Collection. Very Good. Cards are lightly bowed with general wear and light toning; four of diamonds is the most worn with creasing and small spot of loss to one of the corners.The box they are held in is quite fragile with tarnishing to the metal ribbon and slight soiling to velvet boards. Popular in mid-1800s France, and often associated with brothels, these cheap, seemingly innocuous risque novelties were crafted with two pasteboard layers. When held to light, favorably candle light, they reveal hidden sensual, often pornographic images. While the cards inside were economically manufactured, the little box they are held in is rather sumptuously bedecked in high quality velvet and expensive gilt metal thread ribbon. The average layman did not have access to trim or fabric as seen here, indicating that this may have been owned by a rather wealthy individual. It should be added that sets as generously populated as this, even when mixed, are uncommon and desirable curiosa objects.
Price: $4,500