Arthur Lee & Sons Ltd

Published August 11, 2015 Updated May 09, 2023

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

1958 United KingdomAcesAdvertisingEngineeringDe la Rue

Arthur Lee & Sons Ltd

Advertising deck with special ace of spades produced for Arthur Lee and Sons Ltd of Sheffield by Thomas De la Rue around 1958. The pack was sealed with a De la Rue security stamp and also featured the multi-colour joker. The back design cleverly mimics steel plate and is enhanced by silver edges to the cards.

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

Above: Advertising deck with standard courts produced for Arthur Lee and Sons Ltd of Sheffield by Thomas De la Rue around 1958. The cards are silver-edged (steel edged?) and wrapped in cellophane, with a De La Rue security stamp.

avatar
308 Articles

By Matt Probert

United Kingdom • 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

1953 Simpson (Piccadilly) playing cards

Simpson (Piccadilly) playing cards

Innovative advertising pack for Simpsons of Piccadilly designed by André François.

67: Adverts and related material after 1900

67: Adverts and related material after 1900

The final page of material relating to playing cards from British periodicals.

1989 English Electric Valve Company Ltd

English Electric Valve Company Ltd

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

1973 100 Pipers

100 Pipers

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

Help Yourself Society

Help Yourself Society

The “Help Yourself” Society was formed in 1927 to run fundraising activities for hospitals.

1930 Vac-tric Electric Vacuum Cleaners

Vac-tric Electric Vacuum Cleaners

Vac-tric Electric Vacuum Cleaner playing cards manufactured by De la Rue, 1930s.

2015 Giffgaff

Giffgaff

Giffgaff mobile network playing cards, 2015.

2005 University of Essex

University of Essex

Playing Cards produced for the University of Essex during 2005-2007.

1910 Empire Card Company: Star Playing Cards

Empire Card Company: Star Playing Cards

The “Star” special pack of playing cards manufactured by Thomas De la Rue under their Empire Card Co...

Starlight

Starlight

‘Starlight’ playing cards - brightening the lives of seriously ill children - published by Simon Luc...

1948 Permalon Ltd

Permalon Ltd

Miniature playing cards advertising "Perma" smoking-related products featuring the "Perma Girl" on t...

1957 De la Rue’s 125th anniversary

De la Rue’s 125th anniversary

In around 1955 De la Rue introduced a new coloured joker and a series of aces of spades with a silho...

1960 Pneumatic c.1960-1965

Pneumatic c.1960-1965

De la Rue were producing Pneumatic cards with the “special graining for ease of handling” as late as...

2000 Gordon’s Gin

Gordon’s Gin

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

1990 Theakston Brewery

Theakston Brewery

Theakston Brewery advertising playing cards depicting old brewing traditions, tools and skills, desi...

1994 Historical Characters

Historical Characters

“Historical Characters” playing cards printed by Waddington’s for Thermawear Ltd, 1994.

1970 Wiggins Teape “Hi-Speed” playing cards

Wiggins Teape “Hi-Speed” playing cards

Wiggins Teape “Hi-Speed” playing cards manufactured by Waddingtons, c.1970.

1930 Hoover Ltd Playing Cards

Hoover Ltd Playing Cards

Vintage cartoon courts and ace of spades specially designed for Hoover Limited, with full colour bac...

1933 Film Star Playing Cards

Film Star Playing Cards

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

Carreras Ltd Tobacco Advertising

Carreras Ltd Tobacco Advertising

Carreras issued a number of advertising packs, cigarette and trade cards, miniature packs, etc durin...