Customer Reviews

Stacked Decks: The Art and History of Erotic Playing Cards

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Mark Rotenberg is the obvious choice to do a book on pin-up playing cards, the intro says the contents are from his 450 decks (the world's biggest collection? Probably!). There isn't too much to say about a product that has very few clues about the models, photographers, printers yet over the years the numbers manufactured must run into the millions of packs. Of the 452 cards in the book the majority show anonymous females in predictably unimaginative stock glamour poses that card printers could buy for next to nothing.

I thought the illustrative cards much more interesting. There are a few showing the paintings of Heinz Villiger, Joyce Ballantyne, Al Moore and Gil Elvgren. Strangely no Petty or Vargas decks, were the reproduction rights too expensive? The best cards in the book are surely the two decks put out in 1955 by Parisian manufacturer Editions Philibert who commissioned artist Paul-Emile Becat to paint a series of miniatures showing erotic Florentine life during the Renaissance and another set about Casanova. When compared to these two decks the book's photo glamour material come across as the tacky cards they really are.

It is unfortunate that the book's production is very dull. The cards are presented full on, with none angled or overlapping each other. The addition of a drop shadow would have given them a lift. As most of the cards are visually unimaginative perhaps a few still-life photos throughout the book would provide some interest: a poker hand on a card table with some chips, a scattered deck of cards as a background with four or five prominent. I thought it was particular annoying that so many cards are shown larger than the originals (and some really are too big) which only emphasizes their cheap subject matter and poor printing.

If there had been more creative input in the way the contents had been presented I think this could have been a much more interesting book.

***FOR AN INSIDE LOOK click 'customer images' under the cover.

Stacked Decks is fabulous! There are many, many pages of kitschy, campy 1940s through 70s "nudie" cards, featuring both photos and illustrations. Some are sweet in that girl-next-door way, some are sexy and sultry (or even a bit slutty), and some are just plain hilarious! There are also some really old cards dating back to the 1800s and some fascinating history. It's a perfect present for anyone who loves poker or is interested in pin-up art.

"Ooh La La!" - that's what my nephew said when he flipped through one of my "safe" 1950's decks of glamor models (the "unsafe" nude decks are kept on an out-of-reach shelf, I'm a good uncle!)...and his exclamation says it all: there is a sense of naughty FUN to these things, something that makes you want to share them, even though they might be something you're supposed to hide.

This book has that same sense of fun (I keep it on that same high shelf, BTW). With lots of different versions in full color, what is there not to like?

I was particularly taken with the descriptions of a very old European deck, which wasn't even known to be "dirty" until the present day, when a collector happened to notice what showed through the Victorian etchings when the cards were held up to a light! Ingenious! I was a bit disappointed to find out that the hidden portions were considered to be "too dirty" for this book...once they told me about them, I was curious to see them! Oh well.

All in all, a very worthwhile book. Not for kids, of course, but nice, light-hearted kitschy sexy fun for grownups (or just middle-aged juveniles, like myself!).

Interesting topic, interesting book. Good images, but resolution could be better. If you are into fine photography and a collector of cards this book is a good reference of this subject. Every card collector should consider getting a copy of this book. Emphasis is on the fine art and attractive models, and historic approach. A nice book worth the price.

Who doesn't like girlie playing cards? Unfortunately most of these images look like they were done with a 20-year-old scanner from the thrift shop. Not even the moire patterns are removed with a few clicks of a cheap graphics program. What should be easy on the eyes, is hard on the eyes!! The book has the look of a Eastern European clothing catalog from the 1960s. And right now I feel SO sleazy.

I love pin-ups, especially vintage ones. This book has tons of photos of old pin-ups on playing cards which makes for a unique collection. I'm not as concerned with the history of pin-up cards, I'm more here for the photos and I was not dissapointed!