The World of Playing Cards Logo
Published October 30, 2014 Updated March 06, 2023

David Roberts

“David Robert” playing cards with artwork after Roberts’ Sketches in Egypt and Nubia.

Africa Egypt David Roberts Arabic Souvenir Add to Collection

“David Robert” playing cards (the painter's name is actually David Roberts) by an anonymous manufacturer featuring 13 designs in all, copied across each suit, transporting the viewer to Egypt and Nubia through the eyes of Scottish Orientalist painter David Roberts (1796-1864). The two jokers are identical. The indices are not reversible, despite being printed in opposite corners.

Right: click the box to zoom →
(The Arrival of Simùn in Giza)

“David Robert” playing cards with artwork after Roberts' Sketches in Egypt and Nubia “David Robert” playing cards with artwork after Roberts' Sketches in Egypt and Nubia

Above: “David Robert” playing cards with artwork after Roberts’ Sketches in Egypt and Nubia, including Views of the Nile, Approach of the Simoom, the Statue at the temple at Wadi Saboua and The Naos Of The Great Temple. 52 cards + 2 jokers in box, anonymous manufacturer/publisher, undated.

avatar
308 Articles

By Matt Probert

Member since March 02, 2012

I have adored playing cards since before I was seven years old, and was brought up on packs of Waddington's No 1. As a child I was fascinated by the pictures of the court cards.

Over the next fifty years I was seduced by the artwork in Piatnik's packs and became a collector of playing cards.

Seeking more information about various unidentified packs I discovered the World of Playing Cards website and became an enthusiastic contributor researching and documenting different packs of cards.

I describe my self as a playing card archaeologist, using detective work to identify and date obscure packs of cards discovered in old houses, flea markets and car boot sales.


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 Queen of Clubs

Woodblock and Stencil Queen of Clubs

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

2002 Scenic Views of Australia

Scenic Views of Australia

54 different scenic views of Australia in full colour.

1964 Monuments de Paris

Monuments de Paris

‘Monuments de Paris’ souvenir playing cards produced by Heraclio Fournier, c.1964.

1990 Borna Skat

Borna Skat

Publicity pack for the Saxon town of Borna, with designs by Andreas Wachter.

2023 Marlow playing cards

Marlow playing cards

Visitor attractions and businesses to be found in Marlow, Buckinghamshire.

1890 Swiss Scenic Tarock

Swiss Scenic Tarock

Scenic Tarock deck produced by Fabrique de Cartes J. Müller & Cie (Schaffhouse), Suisse.

1996 Papyrus Playing Cards

Papyrus Playing Cards

Papyrus playing cards distributed by Egypt Trade, c.1996.

1880 Âs Nas playing cards with box

Âs Nas playing cards with box

Hand made cards from Persia

Âs Nas

Âs Nas

Âs Nas type playing cards from Persia.

1905 British Columbia Souvenir

British Columbia Souvenir

British Columbia Souvenir Playing Cards by The Clarke and Stuart Company

1953 American President Lines

American President Lines

American President Lines shipping souvenir playing cards, early to mid-1950s.

1964 Official World’s Fair Souvenir, USA, 1964-6

Official World’s Fair Souvenir, USA, 1964-6

Official souvenir pack showing 52 coloured exhibits from the New York World’s Fair, 1964-6.

1933 Century of Progress

Century of Progress

‘Century of Progress’ Exposition playing cards produced by Western Playing Card Company, USA, 1933. ...

1994 Schweden Spielkarten

Schweden Spielkarten

54 different souvenir views of famous people and places in Sweden.

1957 Souvenir Playing Cards from Lebanon

Souvenir Playing Cards from Lebanon

Multicoloured Belgian/Genoese pattern cards, probably printed by Fournier for Lebanon.

1915 New York City souvenir

New York City souvenir

New York City souvenir playing cards with 53 different views of interest, USA, 1915.

1925 Nation’s capital souvenir playing cards

Nation’s capital souvenir playing cards

Nation’s capital souvenir playing cards published by the United States Playing Card Company, USA, 19...

1955 Kyoto Souvenir Deck

Kyoto Souvenir Deck

Kyoto Souvenir playing cards by Nintendo aimed at the up and coming tourist industry, 1950s.

1898 California souvenir playing cards

California souvenir playing cards

California souvenir playing cards, USA, 1898 and 1907.

1999 Shamrock Irish Heritage playing cards

Shamrock Irish Heritage playing cards

A celebration of some of Ireland’s most famous patriots, politicians and poets.

2023 Henley-on-Thames playing cards

Henley-on-Thames playing cards

Calendar events and visitor attractions to be found in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire.

1972 Souvenir Playing Cards of Egypt

Souvenir Playing Cards of Egypt

55 different photographic views of Egypt in full colour.

2005 Tarot of the Thousand and One Nights (1001 Nights Tarot)

Tarot of the Thousand and One Nights (1001 Nights Tarot)

This tarot deck captures the idealised Eastern world's magic from the eighteenth and nineteenth cent...

Kushimoto Marine Park

Kushimoto Marine Park

Kushimoto Marine Park souvenir playing cards published by Nintendo, Japan.

1960 Alaska scenic playing cards

Alaska scenic playing cards

Alaska scenic playing cards featuring scenes of Alaskan life, USA, c. 1960.

2010 Glorious Scotland

Glorious Scotland

54 photographic views of Scotland by Duncan I. McEwan.

1870 Vues et Caractères Suisses No.228

Vues et Caractères Suisses No.228

A Swiss souvenir pack by Dondorf

2005 Budapest souvenir

Budapest souvenir

Colour views of the Hungarian capital, Budapest, on all the courts and Aces.

1901 Pan-American Exposition Souvenir

Pan-American Exposition Souvenir

Pan-American Exposition Souvenir Playing Cards, Buffalo, NY, 1901.

2007 Amusements and Attractions

Amusements and Attractions

‘Amusements and Attractions’ playing cards showing the fun and excitement of America’s amusement par...

1987 Das Tübinger Skatspiel

Das Tübinger Skatspiel

Pack devised by Volker Scheub depicting characters associated with the city of Tübingen.

1985 Conseil Général de la Somme

Conseil Général de la Somme

Famous people and places of the Somme department in northern France, with designs by James Hodges.

1992 Naipes Expo ’92

Naipes Expo ’92

Naipes Expo ’92 souvenir playing cards manufactured by Naipes Comas, 1992.

2002 Gaudí playing cards

Gaudí playing cards

Gaudí playing cards with photography by Ramon Manent, Spain, 2002.

2008 Oxford Pubs playing cards

Oxford Pubs playing cards

Oxford pubs souvenir playing cards, United Kingdom, 2008

1979 Swiss Souvenir

Swiss Souvenir

55 different scenic photographic views of Switzerland.

2003 Ancient Egypt playing cards

Ancient Egypt playing cards

Fully illustrated set of cards depicting various aspects of Ancient Egyptian life and culture.

1994 African art playing cards

African art playing cards

African art and symbolism on playing cards designed by John J. Beckvermit III, USA, 1994.

Icelandic picture playing cards / Islensku landslagsspilin

Icelandic picture playing cards / Islensku landslagsspilin

Icelandic picture playing cards with photography by Gudmundur Ingólfsson.

1994 Vues de Monaco-Monte Carlo

Vues de Monaco-Monte Carlo

Souvenir pack with 54 different views of Monaco, especially Monte Carlo.

1994 Visite de Saint Tropez

Visite de Saint Tropez

Souvenir pack with 54 different views of Saint Tropez.