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March 2024
Swiss Playing Cards
The Swiss national suit system of shields, acorns, hawk bells and flowers emerged sometime during the XV century.
Frauejass
‘Frauejass / le Jass au féminin’ designed by Susan Csomor, Switzerland, c. 1998.
Rococo Playing Cards
Piatnik’s Rococo style playing cards issued as “Rococo Patience”, “Luxus-Patience”, “Empire Patience”, “White Horse Patience”, “Patience-Whist No.140” and “Mini Patience”
Not the Iraqi Most Wanted playing cards
Fifty-five Irish heroes and villains, some ancient but mostly modern.
Commoners playing cards
Created by Ian Cumpstey dedicated to the common land and the countryside.
Feh Schnapskarten
Colourful promotional pack for Feh household and toilet papers.
Liber Ludorum
Liber Ludorum playing cards created by Ian Cumpstey in the insular style, United Kingdom, 2019.
Hansaplast®
Advertising pack for Hansaplast, with comic courts sporting sticking plasters.
Pike and Clover playing cards
Pike and Clover playing cards created by Ian Cumpstey, Cumbria, UK, 2018.
Lorilleux International
Promotional pack for Lorilleux International’s Lotus inks, with designs by James Hodges.
Les Tontons du Rock
Caricatures of rock and pop stars in black and white by Charles Da Costa.
The Beatles • Yellow Submarine
A colourful deck celebrating the 1968 animated feature film based on the Lennon/McCartney song of the same name.
Inglewood Hunting Deck
Inglewood Hunting Deck created by Ian Cumpstey, United Kingdom, 2023.
The Princely Hunting pack, c.1440
The Princely Hunting Pack, c.1440/45, is attributed to Konrad Witz and his workshop in Basle.
Stuttgart pack, c.1430
The luxury, hand-painted Stuttgart Cards (Stuttgarter Kartenspiel) dated c.1430, with suits of ducks, falcons, stags and hounds.
B. Braun-Dexon®
Publicity pack promoting B. Braun-Dexon’s atraumatic needles, with non-standard courts and pips.
Bibaraja
Amusing designs of boys as circus performers by Alberto Muñiz Sánchez.
That’s Entertainment
A deck of 55 cards celebrating 20th Century vaudeville, musicals and cabaret.
Hitchcock
A deck of 55 cards celebrating the master of mystery, murder and mayhem, Alfred Hitchcock.
Star Trek II • The Wrath of Khan
This deck is a vibrant photographic tribute to "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan," one of the most beloved films in the Star Trek saga.
Rock & Pop Legends
Stunning photos of a selection of US and UK music artists.
Classic Movie Posters
A deck of 55 cards presenting vintage classic movies and their stars.
Pin-Ups
A deck of 55 cards celebrating a golden age of cheeky, naughty, bold and curvy ladies in film.
Past Masters’ Association Presentation Pack
The Worshipful Company of Makers of Playing Cards Past Masters’ Association Presentation Pack, 2013.
Burgundy pattern
The old Burgundy (or Burgundian) pattern by Nicolas Chenevet, Dijon.
Peintres Latino Americains
Original artwork by 18 different Latin American artists.
Zodiaque
“Les Signes du Zodiaque” playing cards designed by Youdi des Aubrys.
British Monarchs
Commemorating the royal wedding of Charles, Prince of Wales to Lady Diana Spencer on the 29th July 1981.
54 Affiches Retro
54 different old French advertising posters, mainly for travel and health products.
Branded Tarot Decks and Modern Mystic Lifestyle
Taking a closer look at the rise of media tie-in branded tarot deck and esoteric lifestyle of younger generations.
Il Vostro Destino
Italian fortune-telling pack produced by Viassone and later by Masenghini.
Jeu de la Belle Epoque
Jeu de la Belle Epoque, remembering a golden age of optimism, progress and elegance.
Paco Lobo
Highly original and striking designs by Paco Lobo for the fashion house of the same name.
Phelippe Ayet, 1574
49 assorted cards were found hidden in the lintel of a doorway, in an old building in Toledo, during demolition, and are now preserved in the the Museo de Santa Cruz de Toledo.
Phelippe Ayet, c.1574
Archaic, late medieval Spanish-suited playing cards printed by Phelippe Ayet, c.1574.
Correspondances
‘Correspondances’ depicting the 52 transfer stations of the Paris Métropolitain, France, 1985.
Loewe: Moda Europea Siglo XVII
Luxury pack for the Spanish fashion house Loewe, with 17th century costume designs by Margot Hamilton Hill.
Jeu Gothique
‘Jeu Gothique’ illustrating the Gothic period in France, published by Editions Dusserre.
62: French regional patterns: the queens and jacks
Continuing our look at the figures from the regional patterns of France.
61: French regional patterns: the kings
On page 11 I illustrated several examples of the regional French patterns from Sylvia Mann's collection; this is a more in-depth look at the figures of these patterns ("portraits" in French).
Toros: De El Cordobés a Espartaco
Publicity pack for the Spanish newspaper Ya with caricatures of famous bullfighters by Fernando Vinyes.
Collectors’ Playing Cards for Sale
Some interesting playing cards for sale.
Noah’s Deck
“Noah’s Deck” designed by Ljiljana Rylands.
Baraja de Alava
55 different paintings by Emilio Lope depicting the history and culture of Vitoria and the province of Álava.
Jeu Bonaparte
Jeu Bonaparte depicting the extended family of Napoleon Bonaparte, France, 1978
Jeu du Bicentenaire de la Révolution Française
Pack created by Yannick Pennanguer commemorating the bicentenary of the French Revolution and the centenary of L’Est Républicain.
Hôtels-Grils Campanile
Publicity pack for the Campanile hotel and restaurant chain featuring French provincial costumes, with designs by James Hodges.
Jeu des Bonnets Phrygiens
Reproduction of Jeu des Bonnets Phrygiens relating to the Phrygian cap (or liberty cap), France, 1988.
Miniature Card Dominoes
A miniature set of Goodall domino cards (5.9 x 3.5 cms) still in perfect condition.
Myriorama
Myriorama of Italian scenery, 1824.
Sweden playing cards
Named characters from Swedish history.
San Paolo Shakespeare
San Paolo Shakespeare, Italy, 1978
February 2024
Romania playing cards
Romanian voivodes and their wives from the 15th and 16th centuries.
Dutch Court playing cards
Games & Print Services’ version of the Dutch pattern.
Games & Print Services
Games & Print Services Limited, of Canvey Island, now part of Cartamundi.
Traditional English Court
Games & Print Services Ltd traditional English courts.
Modern English Court
Modern English court style by Games & Print Services Limited, c.1997.
Le jeu des 7 Familles ’Utuafare
Colourful Happy Families game from Tahiti depicting costumes from different archipelagoes.
Le Carte di Forattini
Political caricatures by Giorgio Forattini published by Arnoldo Mondadori Editore, Italy, 1993.
San Paolo Chekhov
Characters from Chekhov’s plays designed by Paolo Fresu for San Paolo Istituto Bancario, Italy, c.1983.
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 the literature by the equivalent of a vapour trail.
Chas Goodall and Son 1820-1922
Today nothing remains of Charles Goodall's Camden Works, where three-quarters of the playing cards printed in Britain were produced.
12: Goodall & Son
Charles Goodall & Son, 1820-1922 and beyond.
Norfin® Trolls
Troll dolls with gaudy hairstyles in a multitude of different costumes.
Norwegian Troll Cards
Norwegian Troll Cards published by Aune Forlag of Trondheim, c.2000.
Netherlands
Playing cards have been known in the Low Countries since the 14th century
Bibliography & References
The following works on Playing Card history and design have been consulted in preparing this website.
Tô Tôm №1204
Tô Tôm is played with a 120-card Chinese-style deck.
Tam Cúc 三菊
Tam Cúc playing cards from Vietnam (Việt Nam), based on Chinese chess, 2016
Paraguayan Playing Cards
Playing Cards in Paraguay
Impressionist Art Cards
Details of 13 paintings by 8 different Impressionist artists on elongated cards.
Jeu de la Vme
A political pack designed by Pino Zac and published in 1977 by Editions Arts et Lettres.
Le Giscarte
Le Giscarte political playing cards designed by Eddy Munerol, France, 1976.
Postak – Las Postas
‘Postak - Las Postas’ playing cards commemorating the history of the Basque postal service, Spain, 1996.
ČZ playing cards
Advertising pack for the Czechoslovak motorcycle factory Česká Zbrojovka.
Bourbon Bridge
Attractive, woodcut-style courts adapted for modern play.
Storia del Fascismo - gioco di carte
‘Storia del Fascismo’ playing cards depicting persons, symbols and artifacts associated with Italian fascism.
Domino Cards, c.1890
Domino Cards by Mesmaekers Frères, c.1890
Bischofszell
Advertising pack for the food producer Bischofszell, designed by Heinz Looser-Brenner, with non-standard suits.
Wedding of Krechinsky • Свадьба Кречинского
A pack of cards depicting characters from the famous play "The Wedding of Krechinsky" by Sukhovo-Kobylina. Колода содержит изображения персонажей известной пьесы Сухово-Кобылина "Свадьба Кречинского"
Calon Arang • Калон Аранг - Бали
Calon Arang, a figure from 12th-century Javanese and Balinese folklore known as a witch skilled in black magic, is the subject of a preserved manuscript at the Royal Netherlands Institute. Калон Аранг • персонаж яванского и балийского фольклора, датируемого 12 веком. Традиция называет ее ведьмой, мастером черной магии. Неизвестно, кто сочинил эту историю, но рукопись текста Калон Аранга (написанная латинским алфавитом) хранится в Королевском нидерландском институте исследований Юго-Восточной Азии и Карибского бассейна.
T. Drayton & Son
Bezique and Whist boxed sets by T. Drayton & Son, London, c.1875.
Jeu des Médecins
Cartoons of doctors and nurses by Pino Zac, published by B.P. Grimaud in 1983.
Kenya Tribes Playing Cards
“Kenya Tribus” playing cards published by Sapra, Mount Kenya Sundries Ltd, Nairobi, 1991
66: Adverts and related material 1862-1900
Some further material relating to cards from nineteenth and twentieth century periodicals.
Scheffmacher
Advertising pack for Scheffmacher, master painters in Schaffhausen, with comic designs by Fritz Bünzli.
Colour doodle deck
“1952-2002 commemorative deck” customised with doodles by an uncredited artist, UK, 2011.
Circular Coon Cards
Circular playing cards in a round tin titled: Sutherland's Circular Coon Cards published by Hartley Bros Pty Ltd, Australia, late 19th century.
Baraja Cuauhtémoc
Baraja Cuauhtémoc published by Treviño Narro, Monterrey, Mexico Original artwork by P. X. Santaella featuring Aztec and other important pre-Columbian cultures.
Jeu Boléro
Sweeping, semi-abstract designs by J.L. Jolin in red and black only.
Spielkarte für Schützen
“Spielkarte für Schützen” deck designed by Karl Heinz Lanz, published by Rudolf Bechtold and Co., c.1966
53: Some recent acquisitions and corrections
The following items are additions and alterations to my collection, the rest of which is listed on page 69.