Advertising & Promotional

Closely following the development of visual advertising in general, such as on labels, packaging and posters, advertising playing cards are used in pubs and cafés and are a popular publicity item. Some packs are widely distributed, others are more exclusive. In some cases single cards are collected from inside the advertised product to complete a full set.

100 Pipers

100 Pipers Scotch Whisky promotional deck, Waddingtons P.C.Co., c.1973. Includes a Tarot pack offer.

Advertising & publicity playing cards by Joker S.A.

Advertising and publicity playing cards manufactured by Joker S.A.

Advertising deck for Carta Mundi

Advertising deck for Carta Mundi produced by Carta Mundi, 2001

Advertising Playing-Cards by La Cubana, S.A. (Fabrica de Naipes El Aguila), Mexico, c.1960

AGMüller English Pattern

AGMüller standard English pattern for the Royal Jordanian Airline, 1980s

Air India

‘Air India’ playing cards, made in India

Akadama Honey Wine by Nintendo

Suntory Akadama Honey Wine playing cards manufactured by Nintendo, Japan, c.1970

Alfred Marks

Alfred Marks Recruitment Consultants publicity playing cards published by Astra Games

Alitalia

Alitalia advertising deck produced by Premier Portfolio International Ltd.

Alphabetti Spaghetti

Alphabetti Spaghetti Happy Families game for Crosse & Blackwell c.1978.

America Online Beach

America Online Beach playing cards, Spanish suit system, non-standard designs, 2006

Anheuser-Busch Army & Navy

This deck is commonly known as the “Anheuser-Busch Spanish-American War deck”, issued at the end of the war.

Argenar, Buenos Aires, c.1980

The reverse has advertising for Cymaco motor spares who have branches in Uruguay.

Arthur Lee & Sons Ltd

Advertising deck produced for Arthur Lee and Sons Ltd of Sheffield by Thomas De la Rue around 1958.

Asociart promotional playing cards, Argentina, 2000

Asociart Insurance promotional playing cards, Argentina, 2000

Austrian Wine

Skat deck for Austria’s excellent wines, Österreichischer Weinwirtschaftsfonds, c.1965

Axe Deodorant

Clearly promoting good personal hygiene, each card shows a young, pouting female model posing seductively and appealing to the playboy.

Bahía Graf, printers, Buenos Aires, Argentina

A pack specially designed for a sandwich bar and cake shop. The jokers show a pile of sandwiches.

Baraja Gallega

Baraja Gallega designed by cartoonists and caricaturists Pinto Chinto (David Pintor & Carlos López) in 2002.

Baraja Gaucha Juan C. Yelina

Baraja Gaucha by Juan C. Yelina for Profertil S.A., 2006.

Baraja Taurina by Simeon Durá, c.1916

Baraja Taurina manufactured by Simeon Durá (Valencia) for Chocolate Angelical, first published in 1916.

Bayer

Humorous pharmaceutical deck made by Antoine van Genechten for Bayer, c.1963.

Beautiful Britain Series

The ‘Beautiful Britain’ series depicting seaside and country resorts was produced by John Waddington Ltd for the Great Western Railway and London and North Eastern Railway between 1924-1939.

Belle Vue Gueuze

Promotional playing cards designed by Wim Simons, Belgium, 1960s.

Benadryl®

Benadryl ® family fun playing cards, c.2000.

BG Bouw Building Company

BG Bouw Dutch Building Company publicity deck manufactured by Carta Mundi, c.1980.

Biermans for the Estanco de Naipes del Peru

Standard Genoese pattern with French indices made by Biermans for Cigarrillo Holiday and the Estanco de Naipes del Perú.

Biermans Genoese pattern

Biermans Genoese pattern for Clayson agricultural machinery, late 1960s.

Binary Playing Cards

Promotional deck for Honeywell Computers by Brown & Bigelow c.1968 with the cards marked in binary notation

Black & White Whisky by Nintendo

Whisky advertising playing cards manufactured by Nintendo Playing Cards Co Ltd for Dodwell & Co., 1960s

BMW Promo Top Trumps

BMW Promo Top Trumps produced as a promotion for the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Boerenbond Veevoeders

Promotional deck designed by Ray Goossens for the Boerenbond farmers’ union, c.1968

Breedon Press Ltd

Playing cards advertising Sunspel underwear printed by the Breedon Press Ltd, Nottingham, c.1950

Brewery Advertising

Australian Brewery Advertising

Brighter Families

“Brighter Families” promotional card game for Cosmos Lamps (Metrovick), 1930

British Airways Concorde

British Airways Concorde playing cards made in Belgium by Carta Mundi, before 2003.

Bucktrout & Co. Ltd

Half-sized cigarette playing cards published by Bucktrout & Co., Ltd (Guernsey) c.1930.

Burj Al Arab Jumeirah

Gold plated souvenir playing cards from the Burj Al Arab Jumeirah hotel in Dubai.

Butagaz

“Butagaz” playing cards for the French gas company, c.1976

C.W.S. ‘Game of Snap’

C.W.S. ‘Game of Snap’ advertising household products, Manchester (UK), 1930s.

Caesars Palace

‘Aristocrat’ Casino Cards with special courts for Caesars Palace by USPCC 2006.

Caledonian Airways “European Phrases”

“European Phrase” playing cards produced for Caledonian Airways, 1994.

Capacitación

Health & Safety playing cards designed as a teaching aid to improve safety standards in the workplace

Capel Vinos

Advertising playing cards for Capel Vinos S.A., manufactured by Naipes Comas, 2001

Capilettor

Capilettor cartoon playing cards published by VASS, Leinfelden, 1978.

Cardiology Trials

Cardiology Trials - limited edition playing cards by Krakowskie Zaklady Wyrobów Papierowych Trefl (KZWP), 2003

Carreras Ltd Playing Cards and Dominoes, 1929

Carreras Ltd miniature playing cards and dominoes, 1929

Carreras Ltd Tobacco Advertising

Carreras issued a number of packs of advertising playing cards as well as cigarette and trade cards, miniature playing cards, dominoes, fortune telling cards and Happy Family cards during the 1920s and 30s.

Cartes de Luxe (1877) facsimile

‘Cartes de Luxe’ first published by Biermans in 1877 was reproduced in facsimile by Amstel Beer in c.1980.

Cartográfica Industrial, Curitiba, Brazil

Double advertising pack made by Cartográfica Industrial for Refrigeração Parana S.A. The extra card contains an insignia with the legend 'CARTAL'.

Casa Escasany

Naipes Casa Escasany ~ Magnificent novelty playing cards published by Casa Escasany, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 1930s

Cassino

Naipes Cassino de Don Clemente, Pasatiempos Gallo S.A., Mexico, c.1988

Castle Lager

Castle Lager playing cards, c.2012.

Cefacidal

“Cefacidal” / Mead Johnson medical humour advertising playing cards, c.1975.

Cerveza ‘El Gallo’

Advertising pack for Cerveza ‘El Gallo’ made in Belgium, c.1880

Chaudsoleil Wine

Chaudsoleil Red Wine advertising playing cards from Morocco.

Chocolat du Planteur

Chocolat du Planteur cards (reproduction) by French artist Louis Bourgeois-Borgex, c.1900.

Cia Chilena de Tabacos

Spanish style pack issued on behalf of the Cía Chilena de Tabacos, c.1932

Cía Chilena de Tabacos

Anglo-American style pack issued on behalf of the Cía Chilena de Tabacos, c.1930

Cigar Bands

A collection of 24 cigar bands with miniature playing cards.

Cilbrás

Cilbrás is a distribution branch of the Brazilian high-pressure gas cylinder and welding supplies company Praxair.

Clausen Brewing

It was a common practice for card makers to produce decks under fictitious names particularly when producing advertising decks, to avoid promoting their own name at the expense of the client.

Coca~Cola themed pack for Ripley department store, Peru

Coca-Cola themed deck produced for Ripley Department Store, Peru, anonymous manufacturer, c.2000

Conrad Punta del Este Resort & Casino

Naipes Conrad Punta del Este Casino playing cards produced specially for Conrad Punta del Este Resort & Casino. .

Coricidin Demilets

Coricidin Demilets pharmaceutical playing cards, 1967.

Craddock Soap Stage Souvenir

The deck is described on the box as “a portfolio of photographs of the leading lights of the stage”

Cribbage Board Collection part 5

A collection of antique and vintage Cribbage Boards by Tony Hall, part 5: Advertising

Czech Insurance Company pack

Czech Insurance Company cartoon pack

Davenol Cough Linctus

Davenol Cough Linctus Happy Families published by Wyeth Pharmaceuticals.

De Reszke Cigarettes “What the Stars Say”, 1934

De Reszke Cigarettes “What the Stars Say” astrology cards issued by J. Milhoff & Co., 1934

Dengue

Dengue prevention playing cards. Juego de 40 Naipes. Material para la prevención del Dengue, Ministerio de Salud de la Nación (Argentina).

Deportistas Guipuzcoanos

Guipuzcoa’s best athletes of the twentieth century, playing cards sponsored by El Diario Vasco and Euskaltel, manufactured by Heraclio Fournier, 1999

Detmold Advertising Backs

Advertising backs by William Detmold Ltd (Australia) c.1910-1920s

Deutsche Nutzpflanzen

Deutsche Nutzpflanzen - Quartett game promoting Kali brand crop fertilizer, 1938.

DSA Textil Berlin

Special deck for Erste Deutsche Sack-Centrale / DSA Textil Berlin manufactured by VEB Altenburger Spielkartenfabrik, c.1970.

Dundas & Wilson Deal Winners

“Deal Winners” promotional pack for Dundas & Wilson law firm.

Dutch Pattern for Van Perlstein

Brepols Dutch Pattern for Van Perlstein distillery, c.1960

Eastern Airlines and Ryder Trucks by Hoyle

Dual advertising deck for Eastern Airlines and Ryder Trucks, produced by Hoyle, 1983.

El Rodeo Talabartería

Promotional playing cards produced for ‘El Rodeo Talabartería’ specialising in leather goods and clothing, Buenos Aires, c.2006.

Eldar by Memco

‘Eldar’ upholstery fabrics advertising deck by Middle East Manufacturing Co of Beirut, Lebanon, c.1960

English Electric Valve Company Ltd

Special pack made for the English Electric Valve Company Ltd Chelmsford, 1989.

Estudio Negrin PIRELLI, c.1960

Estudio Negrin playing cards for PIRELLI, made by Orestes A. Cappellano S.R.L., Buenos Aires, Argentina, c.1960

Fastener S.R.L.

Fastener S.R.L. are manufacturers bolts and industrial fasteners. Traditional Spanish suit symbols have been substituted by various kinds of nuts and bolts.

Festal advertising playing cards

Festal advertising playing cards for Hoechst Peruana S.A.

Festival des Pains

Festival des Pains Artisan Boulanger (Artisan Bread Festival), c.2003.

Film Star Playing Cards

Promotional playing cards for the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film company with film stars on the court cards.

Foto Joker

'Foto Joker' Spanish playing cards for Matera Color Laboratory, 2008

Garuda Indonesia

Souvenir playing cards from Garuda Indonesia Airlines, the national airline of Indonesia.

Genever Giraf

Dutch pattern advertising deck for Genever Giraf made by Van Genechten in the 1950s.

Geprüfte Sicherheit

Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Accident Research, 1978

Gibbs Happy Families

Gibbs Happy Families card game promotion, both full sized and miniature versions, c.1946.

Giffgaff

Giffgaff mobile network playing cards, 2015.

Globalstar

Naipes Globalstar TE.SA.M. Telefonía Satelital playing cards, manufactured by Gráfica 2001.

Glorious Colección 1995

Spanish-suited playing cards featuring the ‘Glorious’ ladies swimwear collection for 1995, designed by Estudio Fileni/Mendióroz.

Gordon’s Gin

Gordon’s Gin branded playing cards themed with limes, lemons and ice cubes, 2000.

Grolsch Brewery

A somewhat unusual deck specially designed for Grolsch Breweries evoking self-expression and independence of spirit, c.2012

Guinness Posters

Classic Guinness Posters, 1999.

Hamm’s Beer

Hamm’s Beer promotion deck with bear cartoons by Frank M. Antoncich 1968.

Hard-a-Port

Tobacco insert cards were a very successful marketing innovation which started in the nineteenth century.

Havermout Kwartetspel

“H-O Kwartetspel” children’s card game promoting quick cooking oatmeal (instant porridge), 1930s.