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Political Playing Cards

Political

Political playing cards were introduced in the 17th century providing entertainment by satirising or deriding current events and leaders. Propaganda cards, Imperial decks, war cards and even educational card games all carry a message which relates to the politics of memory, the means by which events are remembered and recorded, the way history is written and passed on. Historical memory can be used to arouse emotional reactions...

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52 reasons to re-elect George Bush 2004

52 reasons to re-elect George Bush

“52 reasons to re-elect George Bush” political playing cards published in 2004.

9-11-89 passé 1990

9-11-89 passé

Caricatures of East German politicians following the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Academia Catavencu

Academia Catavencu

Caricatures of Romanian political figures by Academia Catavencu.

Anti-Fascist cards, 1943 1943

Anti-Fascist cards, 1943

Satirical Anti-Fascist cards designed in 1943 by Ivan Ivanovich Kharkevich.

Anti-Fascist Propaganda Pack for the Siege of Leningrad, 1942 1942

Anti-Fascist Propaganda Pack for the Siege of Leningrad, 1942

In 1942 a pack of ‘anti-fascist’ playing cards was designed by Vasiliy Andrianovich Vlasov mocking the rulers of Germany and the Axis powers.

Anti-Napoleon 1815

Anti-Napoleon

Deck from the liberation war against Napoleon, c.1815.

Anti-Religions 1934

Anti-Religions

Clubs represent the Russian Orthodox church, Hearts Roman Catholicism, Spades Confucianism and Diamonds represent Judaism.

Argentine Political Cards 1890

Argentine Political Cards

Political Playing Cards, Buenos Aires, 1890.

Army & Navy

Army & Navy

Andrew Dougherty’s Army & Navy deck from the Civil War era, c.1865.

Atouts de la Vie 1940

Atouts de la Vie

“Atouts de la Vie” wartime card game created by Madame Lucien Willemetz, c.1940.

B-Deck 2005

B-Deck

“B-Deck” scurrilous playing cards poking fun at a former UK prime minister.

Back to the USSR 1995

Back to the USSR

Back to the USSR deck featuring communist party leaders and politicians, c.1995

Bavarian Military Cards 1880

Bavarian Military Cards

The King of Acorns is supposed to represent Prince Otto; the King of Leaves is Maximilian II; the King of Bells is Ludwig II; the King of Hearts is Ludwig I wearing a general's uniform.

Better drug laws now

Better drug laws now

“Better drug laws now” campaign playing cards issued by Release, United Kingdom.

Brexit Most Wanted 2019

Brexit Most Wanted

‘Brexit Most Wanted’ playing cards, United Kingdom, 2019.

British Political Images 2010

British Political Images

Playing cards depicting British political images from the Bodleian Libraries.

Bush Cards – The Second Term 2005

Bush Cards – The Second Term

Playing cards slanted to the right, issued to mark George W. Bush’s second term of office.

Bush cards: carefully stacked deck 2003

Bush cards: carefully stacked deck

“Bush cards: carefully stacked deck”, USA, 2003.

Bush League Allstars 2004

Bush League Allstars

Six different decks of “Bush League Allstars” political playing cards, United States, 2004.

Bushy Cards 2005

Bushy Cards

“The Bushy Cards” playing card deck published by Political Parody LLC, USA, 2005.