Éditions Philibert, Paris, 1954-1960

After World War II the floodgates for imaginative card-making opened (once again). Éditions Philibert published an outstanding luxury series of artistic and sometimes risqué playing cards in Paris from 1954 to 1960, including: Les Mousquetaires, St Hubert's Bridge, Corsaires et Flibustiers, Proverbes, Pierres Precieuses, Paris Scenes, Sirenes, Veronique, Déesses, Can-Can, Le Florentin and Mémoires de Casanova. Cards were produced to a high standard of quality with gilded edges. Many of the decks involve photographs of life models or scenic views; others depict paintings with different scenes at each end.

Designers include Albert Dubout, Eugène Lelièpvre, Gabriel Garachon, Pierre Albarran and Paul-Émile Bécat who produced the artwork, photography or paintings that make these decks so extraordinary, elevating the status of playing cards to minor works of art. In the case of the cards designed by Bécat, their luxurious sensuality and tender intimacy have rarely been surpassed in any other playing cards. The decks were finely printed by Draeger Frères.

Above: “Corsaires et Flibustiers”, 1958  see more →

Above: “St Hubert’s Bridge”, c.1956  see more →

Above: Paris Scenes, 1957  see more →

Above: “France Souvenir” 1957.

Above: “Déesses I” Mythological Story, 1960.

Above: “Déesses II” Mythological Story, 1960.

Above: “Sourires de France” 1959.

Above: “Proverbes II” 1960.