Les Tontons du Rock
Caricatures of rock and pop stars in black and white by Charles Da Costa.
In French, ‘tonton’ is a term of affection, most often used by a child when referring to an uncle. Here, the 15 ‘tontons’ are all rock and pop stars. The head and shoulders portraits in black and white are ‘full-on’ and ‘in-your-face’! Though not named, most are easily recognisable including Mick Jagger (KD), David Bowie (KH), Freddy Mercury (QS) and Tina Turner (QD). The indices are in French. A red microphone is included in the top left-hand corner of each of the Jokers. Paul McCartney and Jimi Hendrix are on the reverse.
Above: Les Tontons du Rock playing cards published by Editions de Tournon, Paris, France, 2021. Printer unknown. 52 cards + 3 Jokers in tuck box. Size: 58 x 88 mm. © Charles Da Costa 2021 © Editions de Tournon 2021
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Other packs in this series are Les Tontons de Louis, Les Tontons d’Audiard, Les Tontons Flingueurs, and Les Tontons Flingueurs 2, all with caricatures by Charles Da Costa. Les Tontons flingueurs is a popular French film of 1963 starring Lino Ventura.
By Roddy Somerville
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.
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