1 May 2012
13:00 BST
London, Knightsbridge
Chess Sets, Playing Cards and Games
Back to auction 19802
Chess Sets, Playing Cards and Games
Back to auction 19802
A pack of "anti-religions" playing cards,
Soviet Union (state playing card monopoly), published 1933,
N-702, "Extra Fine", rounded corners, decorative graphic backs depicting a horned mask and Star of David, gilt edges, in the original card box (plus joker)[52/52] ** "Playing Politics or Cabinet Shuffle" caricaturist pack, commissioned by the Victoria & Albert Museum, 1983, the cards in the original cellophane wrappers in a card "slide" box
(2).
N-702, "Extra Fine", rounded corners, decorative graphic backs depicting a horned mask and Star of David, gilt edges, in the original card box (plus joker)[52/52] ** "Playing Politics or Cabinet Shuffle" caricaturist pack, commissioned by the Victoria & Albert Museum, 1983, the cards in the original cellophane wrappers in a card "slide" box
(2).
Sold for
£437
inc. premium
Footnotes
- Reference: Roger Tilley, "Playing Cards", Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 1967, figure 84. An interesting propaganda pack from the USSR. Diamonds represent Judaism, clubs the Russian Orthodox church, spades Confucianism, and hearts Roman Catholicism. The Joker is depicted as a top-hatted Capitalist holding the strings of the four religions.
"Playing Politics or Cabinet Shuffle" was commissioned by the V & A in 1983. The pack included contributions from leading cartoonists of the day including: Gerald Scarfe, Trog, Marc, and John Springs of The Spectator.
Provenance: from the collection of the late John Hayter.
Category: Collectibles / Toys and Dolls
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