The World of Playing Cards Logo
Published April 29, 2015 Updated April 05, 2022

Čierny Peter

Four themed ‘Čierny Peter’ card games by Obchodní Tiskărny.

Czechoslovakia Obchodní Tiskárny Karel Franta Ludék Maňásek Oldřich Jelínek Black-Peter Card Games Add to Collection

‘Čierny Peter’ is the name of a children’s card game for 3-6 people which is prevalent in many countries around the world. In other countries the game is known as ‘Black Peter’, ‘Petter-spel’ or ‘Pekka-peli’. It is a variation of ‘Old Maid’, a pairs matching game played with a special deck of cards with various cartoon characters on them, often following themes such as music, children, occupations, sports, etc. Each pair has a matching picture symbol on the top left of the cards to easily identify them as a pair. At the end of the game only one player is left with a single card, ‘Čierny Peter’: that player is the loser.

Above: boxes from various ‘Čierny Peter’ sets based around different themes manufactured by Obchodní Tiskărny. Each one has 33 cards + rules in the box. All images courtesy Rex Pitts.

‘Čierny Peter’ Conductor by Karel Franta

‘Čierny Peter’ in Bandages

‘Čierny Peter’ on a bike by Oldřich Jelínek

‘Čierny Peter’ sooty face by Ludék Maňásek

avatar
773 Articles

By Rex Pitts (1940-2021)

Member since January 30, 2009

Rex's main interest was in card games, because, he said, they were cheap and easy to get hold of in his early days of collecting. He is well known for his extensive knowledge of Pepys games and his book is on the bookshelves of many.

His other interest was non-standard playing cards. He also had collections of sheet music, music CDs, models of London buses, London Transport timetables and maps and other objects that intrigued him.

Rex had a chequered career at school. He was expelled twice, on one occasion for smoking! Despite this he trained as a radio engineer and worked for the BBC in the World Service.

Later he moved into sales and worked for a firm that made all kinds of packaging, a job he enjoyed until his retirement. He became an expert on boxes and would always investigate those that held his cards. He could always recognize a box made for Pepys, which were the same as those of Alf Cooke’s Universal Playing Card Company, who printed the card games. This interest changed into an ability to make and mend boxes, which he did with great dexterity. He loved this kind of handicraft work.

His dexterity of hand and eye soon led to his making card games of his own design. He spent hours and hours carefully cutting them out and colouring them by hand.


Related Articles

Woodblock and Stencil Joker

Woodblock and Stencil Joker

A limited edition art print of the 1984 woodblock joker.

Woodblock and Stencil Jack of Clubs

Woodblock and Stencil Jack of Clubs

A limited edition art print of the Jack of Clubs 1984 woodblock joker.

Woodblock and Stencil King of Diamonds

Woodblock and Stencil King of Diamonds

A limited edition art print of the King of Diamonds 1984 woodblock joker.

Woodblock and Stencil Jack of Hearts

Woodblock and Stencil Jack of Hearts

A limited edition art print of the Jack of Hearts 1984 woodblock joker.

The Search for New Games in the late 19<sup>th</sup> century

The Search for New Games in the late 19th century

A few new games survived and are still around today; most came and went and are only witnessed in th...

1965 ČZ playing cards

ČZ playing cards

Advertising pack for the Czechoslovak motorcycle factory Česká Zbrojovka.

1760 Vogelspiel

Vogelspiel

Vogelspiel, a German card game known as the “cuckoo game” also known as “Gnau”.

Hoyle v Foster: whose name should we remember?

Hoyle v Foster: whose name should we remember?

Hoyle’s name is associated with the rules by which many games are played, particularly card games B...

1742 Hoyle and his Legacy

Hoyle and his Legacy

Edmond Hoyle (1672-1769) was an English writer who made his name by writing on whist and a selection...

1900 Bridge Markers and bridge scoring methods

Bridge Markers and bridge scoring methods

Bridge Markers and bridge scoring methods 1900-1930

Pinochle

Pinochle

I have always been intrigued by the game Pinochle.

1985 Budweiser Budvar beer

Budweiser Budvar beer

Colourful designs promoting Budweiser Budvar beer from Czechoslovakia.

1995 Les 7 Familles Pyrénées

Les 7 Familles Pyrénées

Mountains, flowers, animals, tourist sites of the Pyrenees, all drawn by the artist Pertuzé.

1996 Jeu des 7 Familles Spider-Man

Jeu des 7 Familles Spider-Man

Colourful card game featuring the Marvel Comics superhero Spider-Man and some of his fearsome advers...

1988 ZPA Trutnov

ZPA Trutnov

Publicity pack for a Czech company making mains receivers and electrical control units.

1988 Jan Becher playing cards

Jan Becher playing cards

Publicity pack for Jan Becher, a Czech liqueur company, with modified international courts.

2016 Dungeons & Dragons “Curse of Strahd” Tarokka Deck

Dungeons & Dragons “Curse of Strahd” Tarokka Deck

Enhance your Dungeons & Dragons game with the Tarokka Deck, a tarot-inspired set of cards that bring...

1994 Old Bachelor™

Old Bachelor™

The 90’s version of Old Maid with illustrations by Susan Wise.

1998 Jeu de 7 Familles France 98

Jeu de 7 Familles France 98

Families card game with comic designs featuring seven of the teams competing in the 1998 World Cup. ...

1993 Cleveland Museum of Art artists card game

Cleveland Museum of Art artists card game

Cleveland Museum of Art artists card game, USA, c.1993.

1994 Jeu de Familles Les Pierrafeu®

Jeu de Familles Les Pierrafeu®

Quartet game featuring The Flintstones and friends.

2006 Papst Quartett

Papst Quartett

A quartet game featuring a selection of popes up to Benedict XVI.

1972 Interhotel playing cards

Interhotel playing cards

Interhotel playing cards printed by Obchodni Tiskárny (OTK), Prague, and published by the Interhotel...

1939 Lecardo

Lecardo

‘Lecardo’ playing cards, dominos & word building game invented by Stanley Kermode, United Kingdom, c...

1987 Pumuckl quartet game

Pumuckl quartet game

Quartet game featuring the kobold Pumuckl, creation of the German author Ellis Kaut.

1995 Charlie Brown Plays Baseball card game

Charlie Brown Plays Baseball card game

Peanuts comic strip characters on cards for regular play or a special game based on baseball.

1985 Alternative Happy Families

Alternative Happy Families

An updated, 1980s-style “Alternative Happy Families” game.

2001 Detskie

Detskie

‘Detskie’ children’s cards produced in Russia, 2001.

2014 Politically Incorrect Happy Families

Politically Incorrect Happy Families

A Happy Families set with many differences from a conventional one.

1975 Waddingtons Nursery Rhymes

Waddingtons Nursery Rhymes

Nursery rhyme playing cards by Waddingtons, Leeds, UK, 1975.

1989 150 Years of Czechoslovakian Railways

150 Years of Czechoslovakian Railways

Czech trains and railwayana from 1839 to 1989, made by Obchodní Tiskárny, Prague, Czechoslovakia.

2014 Vesalius Anatomy Card Game

Vesalius Anatomy Card Game

Celebrating the work of Andreas Vesalius in the quincentenary year of his birth.

1950 Black Peter

Black Peter

Two Black Peter games by Willy Mayrl published by Ferd Piatnik & Söhne, 1950s.

Sergeant-Major

Sergeant-Major

Sergeant-Major card game devised by W.G.Smith

Pepys Games

Pepys Games

The Story of Pepys Games by Rex Pitts

J. W. Spear and Sons

J. W. Spear and Sons

Jacob Wolfe Spear founded his company manufacturing fancy goods in 1879 near Nuremberg in Bavaria, G...

Chad Valley Co. Ltd

Chad Valley Co. Ltd

Chad Valley Co. Ltd (incorporating Johnson Brothers (Harborne) Ltd, the long-established UK brand bo...

Multum in Parvo Co., Ltd

Multum in Parvo Co., Ltd

Multum in Parvo published a range of indoor games during the period from 1884-1927.

1954 Ariel Productions Ltd

Ariel Productions Ltd

The founder of Ariel Productions, Philip Marx, was a prolific publisher of children’s books and comi...

Kum-Bak Sports, Toys & Games

Kum-Bak Sports, Toys & Games

Kum-Bak Sports, Toys & Games MFG Co., Ltd, London S.E.11

1950 Crazy People

Crazy People

Crazy People children’s card game illustrated by caricaturist and graphic artist Walter Trier, c.195...

1954 Andere Zeiten - Andere Kleider

Andere Zeiten - Andere Kleider

‘History of fashion’ cultural quartet game designed by Erika Werner-Nestler, 1954.

1983 Netherlands Kostuum Kwartet

Netherlands Kostuum Kwartet

Dutch costumes quartet game designed by Gerard Huijg, 1983.

1912 Panko

Panko

Panko (Votes for Women) suffragette card game published by Peter Gurney Ltd, c.1912.