Revolutionary playing cards

Amusing or somewhat gory? The reactions to this pack will differ. The designs are certainly atypical (hence the name of the publisher, ATYPYK). On early French Revolutionary playing cards the kings and queens lost their crowns – here they have lost their heads as well! However, these headless courts are based on standard English designs, not French ones. The King of Hearts who traditionally appears to be slicing through the back of his head probably provided the idea for this pack. The Jokers, though not identified, almost certainly show the two creators/publishers, Ivan Duval and Jean Sébastien Ides. Some of the severed heads “adorn” the tuck box. Not for the faint-hearted! See the box►

Above: English pattern designs with decapitated courts. Designed in Paris, made in Spain, published by ATYPYK, Paris, 2010. 52 cards + 2 Jokers in tuck box. Size: 63.5 x 88 mm.