United Kingdom
Playing cards first arrived in England during the 15th century, but none have survived from such an early date.
Playing cards in Wales - Welsh playing cards
Whereas the distinctiveness of Wales is an important resource contributing to the rich texture of variety which characterises the island of Britain, to date no Welsh playing cards cards have been found which were actually manufactured in Wales.

Royal Cards Reign of Queen Anne
“Royal Cards Reign of Queen Anne” cover historical events, both honourable and treacherous, during the period 1702 to 1704.

Hall & Son
Hall & Son

Fortune-Telling Cards
Comic Fortune-Telling Cards published by Reynolds & Sons, c.1850.

Comic Question & Answer cards
Comic Question & Answer cards by Josh. Reynolds & Sons, circa 1850.

Myriorama
Myriorama of Italian scenery, 1824.

Transformation Cards for Christmas
Hand-drawn Transformation cards, c.1870.

PLAYING CARDS: A Secret History
PLAYING CARDS: A Secret History

Sergeant-Major
Sergeant-Major card game devised by W.G.Smith

Rex Pitts (1940-2021)
We are deeply saddened by news of the passing of Anthony Rex Pitts (1940-2021).

Pepys Games
The Story of Pepys Games by Rex Pitts

J. W. Spear and Sons
Jacob Wolfe Spear founded his company manufacturing fancy goods in 1879 near Nuremberg in Bavaria, Germany

Chad Valley Co. Ltd
Chad Valley Co. Ltd (incorporating Johnson Brothers (Harborne) Ltd, the long-established UK brand bought by Woolworths in 1988 and now sold at Argos.

Multum in Parvo Co., Ltd
Multum in Parvo published a range of indoor games during the period from 1884-1927.

Ariel Productions Ltd
The founder of Ariel Productions, Philip Marx, was a prolific publisher of children’s books and comics towards the end of and just after the Second World War.

Kum-Bak Sports, Toys & Games
Kum-Bak Sports, Toys & Games MFG Co., Ltd, London S.E.11

Crazy People
Crazy People children’s card game illustrated by caricaturist and graphic artist Walter Trier, c.1950.

Panko
Panko (Votes for Women) suffragette card game published by Peter Gurney Ltd, c.1912.

Snap
Anonymous Snap game, 1930s.

Panto People
Panto People published by E. S. & A. Robinson, c.1930s.

Hats-Off!
Hats-Off! miniature card game published by E. S. & A. Robinson, c.1930s.

Zoo-Boots
Zoo-Boots published by E. S. & A. Robinson, c.1930s.

XIXth Century
The XIXth Century published by John Jaques & Son, c.1875.

The ‘Rinker’ Snap
The ‘Rinker’ highly amusing snap game, c.1910.

Round the World Happy Families
Round the World Happy Families by Chiefton Products Ltd of Bristol, c.1950s.

Abbatt Animal Families
Abbatt Toys Animal Families, c.1970.

French for Fun
French for Fun instructive card game published by John Jaques & Son Ltd., c.1930s

Counties of Britain
Counties of Britain by John Jaques & Son Ltd. c.1930.

Radio Banker
Radio Banker by John Waddington Ltd for Marconiphone Co Ltd.

Jigstar
Jigstar film star card game by Murphy Games Ltd, 1936.

Countries of Empire
“Countries of Empire” published by John Jaques & Son Ltd, c.1930s.

Gas Warm Homes
Gas Warm Homes Happy Families game published by British Gas, c.1980.

The Bristol Pack
The Bristol Pack, an exhibition of playing cards designed by Bristol artists, 2005.

Zooloo Misfitz
Zooloo Misfitz card game designed by George Lambert for C.W. Faulkner & Co, c.1907.

Crocheter’s Playing Cards
Crocheter’s playing cards sent to subscribers of the Crochet Society box, 2021.

Crikey!
Crikey! Classic British Comics playing cards published by Bird Playing Cards, 2013.

Forfeits
Forfeits party card game by Merit Games, J & L Randall Ltd, c.1950.

Splash Page Special
Splash Page Special party card game.

Donkey
Donkey card game by Chiefton Products Ltd of Bristol, c.1950s.

Dundas & Wilson Deal Winners
“Deal Winners” promotional pack for Dundas & Wilson law firm.

Gulliver’s Travels
Gulliver’s Travels card game no.293 published by Piatnik, c.1950.

Snafooey
Snafooey, a fun and laughter card game by Peter Pan Playthings Ltd, Peterborough, 1983.

Happy Gas Families
Happy Gas Families published by British Gas, c.1985.

Pranks & Mimics for the Party
Pranks & Mimics for the Party, 1950s.

My Goodness my Guinness
Gilroy Special Edition Playing Cards to commemorate the centenary of the birth of John Gilroy, 1989.

Gilbert and Sullivan
Gilbert and Sullivan deck created by Don Jack using artwork from Players cigarette cards.

Bandsman Snap
Bandsman Snap by Chiefton Products Ltd of Bristol, c.1950s.

Khanhoo
Khanhoo by Charles Goodall & Son, 1895.

Botany Quartetts
Botany card game published by Houlston and Wright & Henry Greenwood, c.1860.

Scoop
Scoop by James Cond Ltd, 9 Charlotte Street, Birmingham, c.1920s.

Gibbs Happy Families
Gibbs Happy Families card game promotion, both full sized and miniature versions, c.1946.

Electric Snap
Electric Snap by the South Wales Electricity Board, 1950s.
