[Ads-l] antedating "French postcard"

[Jonathan Lighter]

That suggests a rough date of origin for "French deck." Not in oED.

JL

On Sat, Apr 18, 2026 at 1:01 PM ADSGarson O'Toole <
00001aa1be50b751-dmarc-request at listserv.uga.edu> wrote:

> Here is an 1880 advertisement for "racy" French cards. This may help
> explicate the evolution of the term "French postcard".
>
> Date: January 16, 1880
> Newspaper: South Branch Intelligencer
> Newspaper Location: Romney, West Virginia
> Article: (Advertisement for French Cards)
> Quote Page 4, Column 7
> Database: Newspapers.com
>
>
> https://www.newspapers.com/article/south-branch-intelligencer-racy/195801512/
>
> [Begin excerpt]
> DON'T EXPOSE ME
> Rich, Rare and Racy French Card. Send 10c for sample. Address NOVELTY
> CARD CO. 77 Clark street, Chicago.
> Jan 24, 1879.
> [End excerpt]
>
> This 1887 article warns about "transparent French cards". But these
> might be playing cards and not postcards.
>
> Date: February 26, 1887
> Newspaper: The Carbondale Leader
> Newspaper Location: Carbondale, Pennsylvania
> Article: Saunterer's Letter
> Quote Page 4, Column 3
> Database: Newspapers.com
>
> https://www.newspapers.com/article/tri-county-independent-racy/195802456/
>
> [Begin excerpt]
> And then parents generally don't know, perhaps, of the transparent
> French cards which may be in the hands of their sons and (God forbid!)
> perhaps their daughters. These cards look innocent enough on casual
> glance, but when held up and a ray of light is allowed to pass
> through, the foulest of imaginable pictures present themselves to the
> eye. They are described in "Police Gazette" and "Police News"
> advertisements as "rich, rare and racy." They are rich and racy in a
> certain sense, but they are not rare enough. This is sufficient.
> [End excerpt]
>
> This webpage specified below presents examples of translucent playing
> cards with hidden obscene images. The website suggests that the cards
> are probably French circa 1850.
>
> Website: The World of Playing Cards
> Article: Translucent Playing Cards, c.1850
> Date: Published April 05, 2002, Updated August 07, 2022
>
> https://www.wopc.co.uk/france/translucent/
>
> [Begin excerpt]
> Translucent Erotic Playing Cards, prob French, c.1850
> To the unsuspecting viewer the cards look like normal 19th century
> French playing cards... until they are held up to the light.
> [End excerpt]
>
> On Sat, Apr 18, 2026 at 8:37 AM Jonathan Lighter
> <00001aad181a2549-dmarc-request at listserv.uga.edu> wrote:
> >
> > Not in OED, but HDAS dates it to WW1 era.
> >
> > Apparently French postcards were notable for photos, caricatures, etc.,
> > before British and American manufacturers adopted this style. Earlier
> refs.
> > in Newspapers.com are to entirely innocent cards, some featuring views of
> > chateaux and cathedrals.
> >
> > 1907 _The Age_ (Sydney) (Dec. 21) 10: Strong complaints have been
> received
> > from Sydney by the Postmaster- General concerning an attempt to send
> > through the post advertisements incorporating some very obscene French
> post
> > cards.
> >
> > 1912 _Manchester [Eng] Courier_ (Feb. 5) 8:  It was there the French post
> > card and other obscene prints were to be found.
> >
> > JL
> >
> > --
> > "If the truth is half as bad as I think it is, you can't handle the
> truth."
> >
> > ------------------------------------------------------------
> > The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
>


-- 
"If the truth is half as bad as I think it is, you can't handle the truth."

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