Le Ore playing cards
Caricatures of famous personalities from the late 1970s for the Italian magazine Le Ore.
Le Ore – The Hours in English – was an Italian weekly news magazine published in Milan between 1953 and 1994. It started out as a political, cultural and literary magazine but by 1977 had switched to being pornographic. Sales boomed – for a while!
The physical features of the characters on the courts are extremely exaggerated, especially the lips and the breasts. The characters are not named but one can make a few guesses: John Travolta (JS), Alain Delon (JH), Jean-Paul Belmondo (JC). The Jack of Diamonds is labelled ‘El Cubano’. This could well be Alberto Sicilia Falcon, an infamous drug trafficker and arms smuggler.
The style of the back design reminds one of the Panorama pack of c.1979 so the same company (Windmill?) probably printed both packs. Like the original Panorama pack, the cards in this pack were issued one suit at a time with four different issues of the magazine.
Above: Le Ore playing cards published by Le Ore, Milan, Italy, c1980. Designed and made in Hong Kong. 52 cards + 2 Jokers. Size: 62 x 87 mm.
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.
Related Articles
Carte di Natale
Designed by Pier Canosa as a Christmas pack for the Cortina Art Gallery in Milan.
Tarot Actuel 1984
Major arcana to cut out, issued with the French magazine Actuel, using photographic images.
Politiker-Skat by Bubec
Caricatures of world leaders, including many German politicians, by the artist Bubec.
Le Poker Politique
French politicians and various world leaders caricatured by the German artist Bubec.
Modern Jass (Fredy Sigg)
Caricatural updating of traditional Swiss Jass cards by the artist Fredy Sigg.
Lyon pattern made in Italy by Pietro de Santi
The Lyon pattern was initially developed in France during the 16th century. As Lyon was a trading hu...
Laurenzo Propagine
Spanish-suited cards made in Italy by Laurenzo Propagine.
Il Tarocco Mitologico
Fully pictorial Tarot designed by Amerigo Folchi with figures mainly from Greek mythology.
La Baraja del Mundial
“La Baraja del Mundial” satirical football deck published by Fournier for ‘Interviú’ news magazine. ...
Neapolitan pattern by Luigi Pignalosa, Naples
Two versions of the Neapolitan pattern from the British Museum by Luigi Pignalosa, Naples, 1875 & 18...
Dylan Dog
Characters and objects from the Italian comic book series Dylan Dog, written by Tiziano Sciavi and d...
Royal Britain
Pack devised by Pietro Alligo depicting English monarchs from Alfred the Great to Elizabeth II.
Juristenskat
Caricatures of lawyers and judges by Philipp Heinisch for HEEL Verlag.
Líneas rojas 2016
Semicaricatural images of Spanish politicians by Jordi Minguell, combined with non-standard suits. ...
Le Monde Primitif Tarot
Facsimile edition produced by Morena Poltronieri & Ernesto Fazioli of Museo Internazionale dei Taroc...
I Tarocchi del Buongustaio
A less-than-serious set of major arcana on a gourmet theme, with designs by Cosimo Musio.
Trending Articles
Popular articles from the past 28 days
