Aesop’s Fables playing cards by I. Kirk, c.1759.
Anno Mundi: an early Jaques game described as ‘scripture recreation for the young’ with events in the Old Testament boldly dated, c.1875.
The Arms of English Peers playing cards were first published in 1686. Heraldry, or a knowledge of the arms and blazons of royalty was an important part of a respectable education.
Health Promotion playing cards issued by the British Army with cartoons about army life and information on where to get health advice
“Atouts de la Vie” wartime card game created by Madame Lucien Willemetz, c.1940.
Bio-Pack flashcards produced for Thai biology students
“European Phrase” playing cards produced for Caledonian Airways, 1994
Children's games are distinct from ordinary playing cards, with their most obvious difference being the lack of any court cards or suit marks.
“Castles” Quartet Illustrated by Vladimir Kovářík
The “Cavalry Game” manufactured by Thomas de la Rue & Co Ltd, c.1900-10
Chad Valley Co. Ltd (incorporating Johnson Brothers (Harborne) Ltd) the long-established UK brand bought by Woolworths in 1988 and now sold at Argos.
Thai Children’s Colour Vocabulary Cards promoting Ovaltine chocolate malt drink, 2016
Chitrashala Press produced some charming children's pictorial alphabet cards for early learning purposes in the 1940s.
Jaques' Counties of England card game, 4th Series (Southern Counties), c.1910.
Desperanto language game by Qui Vive Ltd, c.1990.
German History Quartet published by Otto Maier Verlag Ravensburg, c.1930-35.
EduStack is a team from India passionate about gaming and education that has created two sets of custom playing cards about Maths and Astronomy
“Fair Play” cross cultural playing cards illustrated by Canadian artist Stephen B. MacInnes
Spear’s “Fancy Dress Ball” card game with children dressed in period costumes, 1930s.
Fish Playing Cards by Bamboo (Parksons Press).
“Food Exchange“ playing cards designed by Ralph Dobson for the British Diabetic Association, 1973.
Hand-coloured Forrest Cards produced for “Young Gentlemen & Ladys who are Lovers of Ingenuity”, c.1750s.
Geistliche Karten, Augsburg, 1718. Each card carries a text in Gothic typeface giving advice regarding what to do and think each day. Not quite oracle or divination cards, they are more like 'a motto for the day' collection. The method of using the cards is not known.
Geographical playing cards sold by Henry Brome, second edition, c.1682.
A card game commemorating the first round the world flight by the Graf Zeppelin, published by J.W. Spear & Söhne, Nuremberg, in 1930
Hide & Seek with the Kings & Queens of England by John Jaques & Son, c.1875
“Historic Ships” quartet game from Czechoslovakia illustrated by Jaromír Vraštil
“History of Aviation” playing cards published by Lo Scarabeo (2003) in which every card carries a painting representing an aspect of the history of powered flight
“Iddy Umpty” card game based around learning to read the Morse Code Alphabet. by Thomas de la Rue & Co., Ltd, c.1905
The Game of ‘In Castle Land’ (No.1113) published by The Fireside Game Co., Cincinnati, 1896.
Quartet games with scientific illustrations became popular during the Victorian and Edwardian eras. J. W. Spear and Sons Zoology quartet game is a lesson in natural history.
'Recreo Infantil' children's educational cards published by Jaime Margarit, Palamós (Gerona) c.1888
“Jeu de Géographie” educational playing cards etched by Stefano Della Bella (1610-1664) and published by Henry le Gras, c.1644.
“Klipp Klapp Karten” printed by KZWP-Trefl (Poland) for Kindermuseum Oelde (Germany) in 2004
“Learn Thai” cards published by Lanna Innovation Co. Ltd, 2009.
The summer of 1932 saw the introduction of Lexicon, when a small edition was produced and sold to test the market.
Lingo Pix Tourist Picture Cards by TM Cards, India, 2006
“Math Stack” playing cards designed by Diana Stanciulescu, illustrating and explaining 36 important mathematical constants, published by EduStack in India
This “Jeu de Sept Familles” was produced by Mauclair Dacier in the late 19th century.
Musical Snap by C.W. Faulkner & Co., c.1900.
“Naipes Cristianos” catechetical playing cards with quotations from the four gospels, 2002.
Nap card games published by Multum in Parvo Ltd, London, c.1900
National Geographic: “Weird But True” kids fun fact playing cards, 2014.
“Nationalities”, the people of many nations, published by the Fireside Game Co., Cincinnati, Ohio, c.1897
Ordnance Recognition Playing Cards cards designed to help people at risk from unexploded bombs
Pantheon or Heathen Mythology cards for instruction of youth, c.1770.
The game of Population was first published by the Fireside Game Co., Cincinnati, USA (a division of United States Playing Card Co), in c.1896
The 52 Counties of England and Wales described as a pack of cards first published in London in 1676.
Roman Empire playing cards designed by G. Wyatt for Green Board Game Co Ltd., 2011.
Round Europe card game by Pepys, 1958.
