Brown & Bigelow (Creative Playing Card Co.) "Elvgren" Pin-Up Playing Cards, “52 American Beauties,” c.1955

Collectibles : Playing Cards Pin-up : Brown & Bigelow "Elvgren" ("52 American Beauties")

 

Mint, sealed deck of perhaps the finest pin-up cards ever published, Brown & Bigelow’s “52 American Beauties,” with designs by Gil Elvgren, c.1955. The first two pictures are the actual deck here listed. The images of the card faces are from an open deck of cards that is also for sale in this shop (T00001255).

While Elvgren probably needs no introduction, here is how Martignette & Meisel began their description of him in their book on American pin-up artists:

“ . . . Gil Elvgren has emerged in recent years as the artist most loved and respected by pin-up collectors and fans worldwide. A genius who set the standard for pin-up and glamour painting, Elvgren is in a class by himself because of his brilliant painting technique and his ability to make every pin-up entertaining and lifelike. Clearly influenced by John Singer Sargent and Haddon Sundbloom, Elvgren combined creative compositional schemes and an exceptional use of color with magically rich, passionate brushstrokes. The Elvgren Girl had a fresh and wholesome personality, a slender, shapely form, and a sparkling quality that made her cuter, sexier, and more alive than any other pin-up in the world.”

The deck is complete with 52 cards, plus 2 Jokers, and while it is called “52 American Beauties,” the deck has 53 Elvgren girls if you include 1 of the Jokers. The second Joker gives a brief description of the artist. The cards are poker size (90mm x 64mm) and come in the original box.

As noted, the cards and box are still sealed. You are unlikely to find a better set of these cards.

Reference: Martignette & Meisel, The Great American Pin-Up, pp. 206-227; Dawson, The Hochman Encyclopedia of American Playing Cards, color illustrations, “American Pin-Up”.

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Item ID: T00001435