Playing card
Record status
Individual type · partial
Playing card is an object recorded by Victoria and Albert Museum. The museum's brief description reads: Large King of Clubs card backed with a normal-sized card, used by Tommy Cooper..
Museum description: Large King of Clubs card backed with a normal-sized card, used by Tommy Cooper. These details come from the holding museum's own record; how far this object represents a wider collectible type has not yet been independently verified.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Historical context
Tommy Cooper (1921–1984) was one of Britain’s best-loved entertainers. Known for his red fez, bungling stage persona and razor-sharp humour, Cooper’s career spanned almost four decades and saw him tour extensively with his comedy magic act. He starred in his own shows, both on stage and television, and died during a live broadcast from Her Majesty’s Theatre in 1984. When stationed in Cairo during the Second World War, Cooper mislaid his army-issue helmet during a concert and is said to have borrowed a waiter’s fez. The hat looked comically small on Cooper’s 6ft 3” frame and became his trademark, along with the catchphrase ‘Just like that’. Such was Cooper's fame that the catchphase was borrowed by SodaStream to convey the efficiency of its drinks machines.
Identification
- Museum object name
- Playing card
- Museum object number
- S.747-2019
- Museum system number
- O1517213
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: confirm materials, dimensions, maker and wider type against the museum record and a specialist reference.