Wink Playing Cards

WINK is a group of Latvian artists who have created a range of more than 400 temporary tattoo designs, mainly featuring subjects taken from the natural world. This pack was specially designed by Kristiana Kalnina.

All the black-and-white designs are double-ended, with a slanting line marking the division. In some cases, notably the 6s, the number of animals depicted corresponds to the card value. Geometric (Nordic) designs on the Aces. The Joker features a rabbit wearing a jester’s hat. The back design looks double-ended but in fact isn’t. See the box►

Above: a pack of 53 temporary tattoo designs published by Wink, Riga, Latvia, c.2017. 52 cards + 2 Jokers in a tuck box. Purchased in Riga, Latvia, August 2018.

By Roddy Somerville

Member since May 31, 2022

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Roddy started collecting stamps on his 8th birthday. In 1977 he joined the newly formed playing-card department at Stanley Gibbons in London before setting up his own business in Edinburgh four years later. His collecting interests include playing cards, postcards, stamps (especially playing cards on stamps) and sugar wrappers. He is a Past President of the Scottish Philatelic Society, a former Chairman of the IPCS, a Past Master of the Worshipful Company of Makers of Playing Cards and Curator of the WCMPC’s collection of playing cards. He lives near Toulouse in France.