The World of Playing Cards Logo
Published December 13, 2010 Updated April 25, 2022

Black Peter, c.1940

Black Peter card deck for children printed in Riga during World War II, believed to have been designed by a Latvian artist.

Latvia Black-Peter Nature & Environment Wartime Card Games Add to Collection

Black Peter, c.1940

Black Peter card deck for children printed in Riga during World War II, believed to have been designed by a Latvian artist. Altogether there are 11 animal pairs (male-female) and 1 Black Peter card (bear). The animals depicted are: elephant, lion, cow, horse, pig, goat, deer, monkey, fox, dog and cat.   See also: Schwarzer Peter   Pekka-Peli   Happy Families   Peruvian Animals Quartet

Black Peter, c.1940

Above: cards from Black Peter card deck for children printed in Riga during World War II, believed to have been designed by a Latvian artist.

See also:   Noddy Happy Families   Jaques' Illustrated Proverbs   Jaques' Happy Families   Walt Disney   Cromy Card Games   Zoo Comics

Return to Latvia Homepage →

avatar
1,433 Articles

By Simon Wintle

Member since February 01, 1996

Founder and editor of the World of Playing Cards since 1996. He is a former committee member of the IPCS and was graphics editor of The Playing-Card journal for many years. He has lived at various times in Chile, England and Wales and is currently living in Extremadura, Spain. Simon's first limited edition pack of playing cards was a replica of a seventeenth century traditional English pack, which he produced from woodblocks and stencils.


Related Articles

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 Queen of Clubs

Woodblock and Stencil Queen of Clubs

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

Woodblock and Stencil Joker

Woodblock and Stencil Joker

A limited edition art print of the 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.

2020 Commoners playing cards

Commoners playing cards

Created by Ian Cumpstey dedicated to the common land and the countryside.

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...

1760 Vogelspiel

Vogelspiel

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

Gone to Pot: Gardener’s playing cards

Gone to Pot: Gardener’s playing cards

‘Gone to Pot’: special playing cards for keen gardeners, United Kingdom.

2020 3-D Dino Cards

3-D Dino Cards

Lenticular images of different, unnamed dinosaurs on all-plastic cards.

2002 The Famous Dinosaurs Playing Cards

The Famous Dinosaurs Playing Cards

54 different dinosaurs, both large and small, illustrated by Cecilia Fitzsimons.

2003 A Gardener’s Labyrinth

A Gardener’s Labyrinth

Photographs of flowers, herbs and vegetables by leading photographer Tessa Traeger.

Kushimoto Marine Park

Kushimoto Marine Park

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

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...

1991 Handmade Ganjifa Birds Playing Cards

Handmade Ganjifa Birds Playing Cards

This set of Ganjifa cards is a beautiful example of traditional cards from India.

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.

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...

New Environment deck

New Environment deck

New environment deck / Nouveau jeu de cartes sur l’environnement, Canada.

La Baie James

La Baie James

Playing cards documenting the James Bay hydro-electricity project on the La Grande River in north-we...

1942 WW2 German Propaganda Playing Cards

WW2 German Propaganda Playing Cards

showing satirical portraits of Allied leaders and politicians

2004 Unique Australian Animals

Unique Australian Animals

‘Unique Australian Animals’ educational playing cards designed by Lawton Ho, Australia, 2004.

2005 Theatre of Pain / Teatr Boli

Theatre of Pain / Teatr Boli

Theatre of Pain / Teatr boli playing cards depicting politicians and leaders in the Caucasus territo...

2003 Greenpeace anti-nuclear playing cards

Greenpeace anti-nuclear playing cards

Greenpeace anti-nuclear pack with facts and figures, United Kingdom, 2003.

2006 The Forces’ Favourites

The Forces’ Favourites

The Forces’ Favourites playing cards with glamorous illustrations by David Wright, United Kingdom, 2...

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.

2007 Crop Circles collectable playing cards

Crop Circles collectable playing cards

Crop Circles collectable playing cards with photography by Lucy Pringle, United Kingdom, 2007.

2019 Birds playing cards

Birds playing cards

Birds playing cards illustrated by Ryuto Miyake, 2019.

1998 Axminster 100 playing cards

Axminster 100 playing cards

Special non-standard pack produced for Axminster Carpets Ltd.

2006 Game Over

Game Over

‘Game Over’ political playing cards from Israel, 2006.

1915 Maquettes for an unpublished WWI pack

Maquettes for an unpublished WWI pack

Original designs depicting leaders and allegories from Russia, France, Great Britain and Belgium.

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. ...

1997 Margaret Parrott playing cards

Margaret Parrott playing cards

Margaret Parrott playing cards decorated with whimsical parrots, USA, c. 1997.

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.

1986 Endangered Species and other animals

Endangered Species and other animals

54 different endangered species depicted in full colour published by Safari Limited, Ojus, Florida, ...

2019 A Bouquet of Pheasants

A Bouquet of Pheasants

A Bouquet of Pheasants playing cards produced by Jennifer Gaudion, United Kingdom, 2019.

1985 Salmon playing cards

Salmon playing cards

13 colour photographs showing the life cycle of the salmon by Nintendo, Japan.

2014 Fishing for Compliments

Fishing for Compliments

‘Fishing for Compliments’ playing cards created by Pixel Initiative, illustrated by Stacey Jay Kelly...

2005 Island 2000 Trust

Island 2000 Trust

“Island 2000 Trust” sustainability project playing cards, Isle of Wight, United Kingdom, c. 2005.

2006 Papst Quartett

Papst Quartett

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

1939 Paris pattern for WWII troops

Paris pattern for WWII troops

Wartime edition of standard designs with fewer colours, a special back design and an overprint.