100 Pipers Scotch Whisky promotional deck, Waddingtons P.C.Co., c.1973. Includes a Tarot pack offer.
A few examples of the many interesting back designs.
John Berry's two-volume work on the Waddington archive and collection is a very comprehensive presentation of the history of the firm, but there are some items missing from it which I include here.
My interest in postage stamp variants led me to apply the same principles to playing cards.
Dating is a particularly tricky but very interesting problem to tackle and there are many pitfalls
Agreement had been reached between Waddington's and De La Rue during the second world war for Waddington's to manufacture playing cards for De la Rue. Thus the Amalgamated Playing Card Company was born but it remained an unofficial name for many years.
No.111 by Artex is a copy of Waddingtons standard designs, c1962
Waddington’s Patience Cards from the Barribal Series, c.1929.
William H. Barribal (1873 - 1956) was a London artist who created the Waddingtons 'Barribal' playing cards series, which are avidly collected today.
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.
The Game of Beaver designed by G E Studdy and published by John Waddington Ltd in 1927.
“Bobs y'r Uncle” nursery rhyme card game designed by Frank H. Simpson for John Waddington Ltd. in 1935
Cheers & Tears by John Waddington Ltd, 1963.
Cir-Q-Lar Playing Cards. In 1929 John Waddington Ltd commenced the production of circular cards and these were very popular.
Crown the Queen card game invented by Elaine Burton, c.1953.
Special pack made for the English Electric Valve Company Ltd Chelmsford, 1989
Designs by Harry Rountree (1878-1950); Waddington's 1933 Trade Brochure
Holmblads No. 121 made by John Waddington, England, for Denmark
Vintage cartoon courts and ace of spades specially designed for Hoover Limited, with full colour back showing the Art Deco style Hoover factory at Perivale, manufactured by Waddington's Playing Cards, c.1930
John Waddington Ltd, early type Ace of Spades and court cards, 1922-30
Waddington’s introduced a series of unusual shapes in the early 1950s
The summer of 1932 saw the introduction of Lexicon, when a small edition was produced and sold to test the market.
Deck produced for Manchester United Football Club published in 2006
Michelin Tyres by Waddingtons, c.1970
During the 1930s The Ormond Printing Co. Ltd produced playing cards for the Irish market with a distinctive ace of spades, joker and court cards. In 1935 the firm was acquired as a manufacturing facility for Waddington’s cards in Eire.
Pooltella cards by John Waddington Ltd, the cards that simplify football pool forecasts, 1930s.
Queen’s Silver Jubilee playing cards designed by Susan Rae for John Wadddington Ltd, 1977
Nr.154 Holmblads made by John Waddington Ltd specially for S. Salomon & Co., Copenhagen
Shakespearean Playing Cards designed by Frederick Colin Tilney, made by John Waddington Limited c.1925.
Playing cards designed by Siriol Clarry
Waddington’s "Envoy" Series
Waddington’s “Flying” Series, 1933
Waddington’s "Rural England" Series, 1933
Waddington’s 1933 Trade Brochure
Waddington’s 1940 Trade Brochure.
Waddington's Cir-Q-Lar Playing Cards, c.1930
Waddington’s Classic and Wildlife Series, 1933
Waddington’s Dog Series, 1933
Waddington’s Encore Series 1933
Waddington’s Old Master Series, 1933
John Waddington Limited was a leading producer of playing cards and card games in the UK during the period 1922-1995. The company had been founded in the nineteenth century by Mr John Waddington and Wilson Barratt as Waddingtons Ltd.
Waddington’s Sporting Birds Series 1933
Waddington’s Sporting Series, 1933
Waddington’s Tartan Series, 1933
Waddington’s Varsity Series
Waddington’s Wildlife and Classic Series, 1933
Waddingtons Aces of Spades, 1970 onwards
Whot was invented by William Henry Storey in 1935. It comes from the days when friends and family played indoor games by the fireside.