The World of Playing Cards Logo
Published September 21, 2015 Updated June 09, 2022

Chinese Roles of Beijing Opera

A very impressive deck of cards featuring 54 different images from “Chinese Roles of Beijing Opera” published by HCG Poker Productions, 2005

2005 China HCG Art & Design Ethnic & Indigenous Music Theatre Add to Collection

A very impressive deck of cards featuring 54 different images from “Chinese Roles of Beijing Opera” published by HCG Poker Productions, 2005. One in a series of packs of playing cards portraying Chinese history and cultural treasures, these cards show the Chinese Peking Opera with its rich repertoire, beautiful singing, superb martial arts skills, wonderful makeup and brightly coloured costumes which, according to one commentator, are more impressive than a military parade. It is certainly preferable for countries to understand each other through theatre and art rather than war.

“Chinese Roles of Beijing Opera” playing cards published by HCG Poker Productions, 2005
“Chinese Roles of Beijing Opera” playing cards published by HCG Poker Productions, 2005 Court cards from “Chinese Roles of Beijing Opera” playing cards published by HCG Poker Productions, 2005 Court cards from “Chinese Roles of Beijing Opera” playing cards published by HCG Poker Productions, 2005

Above: “Chinese Roles of Beijing Opera” playing cards, 54 cards printed on 280gm high-grade poker Zhonghua Paper by HCG Poker Productions, 2005.

Right: the back design→

back design from “Chinese Roles of Beijing Opera” playing cards published by HCG Poker Productions, 2005
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 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.

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.

1994 Music playing cards

Music playing cards

Portraits of 13 classical music composers.

1904 So-Lah – A Game of Music

So-Lah – A Game of Music

An early 20th century domino-type musical card game by Goodall.

2008 High School Musical 3: Senior Year

High School Musical 3: Senior Year

American teen film depicting students staging their last spring musical.

1984 Carte Romantiche Italiane

Carte Romantiche Italiane

Scenes of life and the theatre in Milan towards the second half of the 19th century.

1984 Le Jeu des Musiciens

Le Jeu des Musiciens

Artist Silvia Maddonni’s gently humorous take on musicians and their instruments.

2004 The Beatles playing cards

The Beatles playing cards

Two packs featuring photos of The Beatles issued by the same publisher in 2004 and 2005.

2021 Les Tontons du Rock

Les Tontons du Rock

Caricatures of rock and pop stars in black and white by Charles Da Costa.

2014 That’s Entertainment

That’s Entertainment

A deck of 55 cards celebrating 20th Century vaudeville, musicals and cabaret.

2005 Rock & Pop Legends

Rock & Pop Legends

Stunning photos of a selection of US and UK music artists.

2004 The Beatles • Yellow Submarine

The Beatles • Yellow Submarine

A colourful deck celebrating the 1968 animated feature film based on the Lennon/McCartney song of th...

1985 Paco Lobo

Paco Lobo

Highly original and striking designs by Paco Lobo for the fashion house of the same name.

Le jeu des 7 Familles ’Utuafare

Le jeu des 7 Familles ’Utuafare

Colourful Happy Families game from Tahiti depicting costumes from different archipelagoes.

1978 Wedding of Krechinsky • Свадьба Кречинского

Wedding of Krechinsky • Свадьба Кречинского

A pack of cards depicting characters from the famous play "The Wedding of Krechinsky" by Sukhovo-Kob...

1962 Jeu Boléro

Jeu Boléro

Sweeping, semi-abstract designs by J.L. Jolin in red and black only.

1968 Knoll International

Knoll International

Geometric designs by the French artist Jean Garçon for Knoll International, the furniture company.

1973 Marcello Morandini

Marcello Morandini

Modern designs by Italian artist Marcello Morandini using the simplest of forms and colours.

1997 Claude Weisbuch

Claude Weisbuch

Free reinterpretation of the traditional Paris pattern courts by the artist Claude Weisbuch.

Mohegan Sun playing cards

Mohegan Sun playing cards

Mohegan Sun playing cards published by Gemaco for Mohegan Sun casino.

1965 Jeu des Copains

Jeu des Copains

French popular singing stars of the 1960s.

2010 El Niño de las Pinturas

El Niño de las Pinturas

Forty-nine distinctive works by Spanish graffiti artist Raúl Ruiz.

1986 Old Met playing cards

Old Met playing cards

Old Met playing cards published by the Metropolitan Opera Guild, USA, 1986.

1820 Heathen Wars

Heathen Wars

German-suited ‘Heathen War’ playing cards published by Joseph Fetscher, Munich, c.1820.

2015 Branle playing cards

Branle playing cards

‘Branle’ playing cards inspired by a 12th-century dance, produced by Noir Arts, USA, 2015.

1978 Banjo playing cards

Banjo playing cards

Banjo playing cards featuring the collection of Akira Tsumura, Japan, c. 1978.

2019 Pendleton playing cards

Pendleton playing cards

Pendleton playing cards inspired by indigenous American artwork, USA, 2019.

1990 Jeu de cartes des Opéras romantiques

Jeu de cartes des Opéras romantiques

Costumes from four operas premiered at the Paris Opera between 1830 and 1840.

2021 Old School Playing cards from Moon

Old School Playing cards from Moon

Designed and published by Leo Scherfig

2015 Malam playing cards

Malam playing cards

Malam playing cards created by Michael Muldoon, USA, 2015.

1987 Dandy Rock’n Bubble

Dandy Rock’n Bubble

56 rock and pop stars of the 1980s, issued in Denmark with bubble gum.

1820 Costumes des Peuples Étrangers

Costumes des Peuples Étrangers

Costumes des Peuples Étrangers & Jeu d’Or dedicated to young people and likely used for games and fo...

2022 Pixel Tarot

Pixel Tarot

This tarot deck pays tribute to the golden age of pixelated video games, drawing inspiration from th...

2022 Britney Spears Oracle

Britney Spears Oracle

Britney Spears Oracle: A Deck and Guidebook to Be Stronger Than Yesterday — a card set for Britney f...

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...

1959 Scaramouche

Scaramouche

Scaramouche cartes à jouer with designs by Henri Favre, published by Le Triboulet, France.

1995 Race Card

Race Card

‘Race Card’ playing cards published by the Concept Card Co., New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.

1945 ORIENT The Queen of Cards

ORIENT The Queen of Cards

A unique Art creation of Subho Tagore

2015 Newtropolis and the Fantastic Fur

Newtropolis and the Fantastic Fur

Newtropolis and the Fantastic Fur: Heroes vs. Villains playing cards illustrated by Peter Wood, 2015...

2010 Wagner’s “Ring” playing cards

Wagner’s “Ring” playing cards

Wagner’s “Ring” playing cards, with illustrations by Sir Arthur Rackham, published by Prospero Art, ...

2015 Hawaiian playing cards

Hawaiian playing cards

Hawaiian playing cards in the style of classic Hawaiian wood carvings, USA, 2015.

1860 South American Costumes

South American Costumes

Costumes of people of Brazil, Peru and Mexico, with views of Rio de Janeiro on the aces.