Advertising and publicity playing cards manufactured by Joker S.A.
Advertising Playing-Cards by La Cubana, S.A. (Fabrica de Naipes El Aguila), Mexico, c.1960
Suntory Akadama Honey Wine playing cards manufactured by Nintendo, Japan, c.1970
The “Boffie” Kwartetspel was designed by Huibert Vet and published by Albert Heijn in 1936
Alcatel playing cards published by Éditions Dusserre, c.1970s
Alfred Marks Recruitment Consultants publicity playing cards published by Astra Games
Naipes "ANGUS" designed by Gustavo A. Pueyrredón, depicting Aberdeen Angus livestock on the courts and jokers dressed as Gauchos.
The Kings show American admirals and the Jacks have different officers at each end. The Queens are “Our Colonies”. Advertising appears on the Ace of Spades and ‘Uncle Sam’ Joker, the back and the box. The medals on the Aces suggest awards.
Anonymous Moroccan Playing Cards for Royal Air Maroc airlines and others...
Elegant gold-printed playing cards in Jugendstil style designed by Otto Benz for Renault, 1987
Advertising pack designed by J. Passos and first printed by Cromografía Irández, Barcelona, c.1926. Re-printed in 1995
Asociart Insurance promotional playing cards, Argentina, 2000
Astra Games was a subsidiary of the McCorquodale Group of Companies, producing playing cards during the period 1982-87.
Possibly one of the most beautiful decks produced for commercial purposes, this was printed by Modiano for the Austrian Lloyd Steamship Company of Trieste in c.1895
Clearly promoting good personal hygiene, each card shows a young, pouting female model posing seductively and appealing to the playboy.
Banco playing cards for Air France manufactured by Draeger Frères, c.1952
La Baraja 'Hoja de Afeitar'. Baraja de Hojas Maravilla descalificadas como de primerísima categoría.
Baraja Taurina manufactured by Simeon Durá (Valencia) for Chocolate Angelical, first published in 1916.
Humorous pharmaceutical deck made by Antoine van Genechten for Bayer, c.1963.
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.
BG Bouw Dutch Building Company publicity deck manufactured by Carta Mundi, c.1980.
Promotional deck for Honeywell Computers by Brown & Bigelow c.1968 with the cards marked in binary notation
The ‘Biography Channel Card Game’, 2002
The Birkel company has produced several promotional “Schwarzer Peter” packs over the years and this one is themed on the circus.
Whisky advertising playing cards manufactured by Nintendo Playing Cards Co Ltd for Dodwell & Co., 1960s
Promotional playing cards produced for Bodegas Trapiche, designed to play Quartet games by collecting a wine bottle card with four matching glasses.
Playing cards advertising Sunspel underwear printed by the Breedon Press Ltd, Nottingham, c.1950
Bridge advertising playing cards for Morganite Carbon, manufactured by La Cubana, S.A., Tulipan 108, Mexico 4, D.F., c.1980s
“Brighter Families” promotional card game for Cosmos Lamps (Metrovick), 1930
British Airways Concorde playing cards made in Belgium by Carta Mundi, before 2003.
Publicity pack for Brunner Möbel with graphic design by André Stehle, 1966
C.W.S. ‘Game of Snap’ advertising household products, Manchester (UK), 1930s.
Health & Safety playing cards designed as a teaching aid to improve safety standards in the workplace
Advertising playing cards for Capel Vinos S.A., manufactured by Naipes Comas, 2001
Cardiology Trials - limited edition playing cards by Krakowskie Zaklady Wyrobów Papierowych Trefl (KZWP), 2003
Double advertising pack made by Cartográfica Industrial for Refrigeração Parana S.A. The extra card contains an insignia with the legend 'CARTAL'.
Naipes Casa Escasany ~ Magnificent novelty playing cards published by Casa Escasany, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 1930s
Naipes Cassino de Don Clemente, Pasatiempos Gallo S.A., Mexico, c.1988
“Cefacidal” / Mead Johnson advertising playing cards, c.1975
Advertising pack for Cerveza ‘El Gallo’ made in Belgium, c.1880
This “Jeu de Familles” from the 1960s designed by Jean Bachès promotes Chambord glassware.
Chaudsoleil Red Wine advertising playing cards from Morocco.
Chocolondo by Famosa
Anglo-American style pack issued on behalf of the Cía Chilena de Tabacos, c.1930
Spanish-suited playing cards for Cigarrillos Compadre, Peru, early 1900s
Cilbrás is a distribution branch of the Brazilian high-pressure gas cylinder and welding supplies company Praxair.
It was a common practice for card makers to produce decks under fictitious names particularly when producing advertising decks. This was to avoid promoting their own name at the expense of the client who was paying to advertise their own product.
Coca-Cola themed deck produced for Ripley Department Store, Peru, anonymous manufacturer, c.2000
The Cow and Gate Happy Family game was issued around 1928 to promote nutrition products
The deck is described on the box as “a portfolio of photographs of the leading lights of the stage”
