Playing Cards from Russia

Anti-Fascist cards, 1943
Satirical Anti-Fascist cards designed in 1943 by Ivan Ivanovich Kharkevich.

Anti-Fascist Propaganda Pack for the Siege of Leningrad, 1942
In 1942 a pack of ‘anti-fascist’ playing cards was designed by Vasiliy Andrianovich Vlasov mocking the rulers of Germany and the Axis powers.

Anti-Religions
Clubs represent the Russian Orthodox church, Hearts Roman Catholicism, Spades Confucianism and Diamonds represent Judaism.

Back to the USSR
Back to the USSR deck featuring communist party leaders and politicians, c.1995

Branle playing cards
‘Branle’ playing cards inspired by a 12th-century dance, produced by Noir Arts, USA, 2015.

C-Arts
Collective Arts pack designed by sixty-three collaborating artists, illustrators and designers, Russia, 2003.

Castle Rock Club
Castle Rock Club playing cards featuring Russian rock stars and musicians, c. 2000.

CCCP playing cards
Soviet and other Communist celebrities depicted on every card, designed by Vladislav Pankevitch.

Centaurus
Centaurus: karty igral’nye suvenirnye, Russia, 2005.

Cosmopolitan № 2121 playing cards
“Cosmopolitan” № 2121 playing cards designed by Russian artist Valeri Mishin, 1996

Cossack
“Cossack” playing cards, with artwork by O. Panchenko dedicated to the revival of the traditions of the Cossacks. Printed by the Colour Printing Plant, St Petersburg, 1994.

Dead Souls
Dead Souls, or “Mertvye dushi igral’nye karty” produced in 2006 by Aleksei Orleanskii.

Detskie
‘Detskie’ children’s cards produced in Russia, 2001.

Dolls Gallery
Dolls Gallery / Galereia kukol : karty igral’nye / published by Varvara Skripkina, 2003.

East Slavonic Mythology
East Slavonic Mythology designed by Aleksey Orleansky (1994) featuring creatures from the watery underworld.

Eastern
“Eastern” playing cards dedicated to ethnic Buryat culture, 2015.

Epokha vozrozhdeniya (Age of Enlightenment)
Epokha vozrozhdeniya (Age of Enlightenment): this pack has effectively become the Russian standard.

Fabergé playing cards
Kollektsiya Faberzhe karty igral’nye (Fabergé playing cards), Russia, 2005.

GAI GIBDD
The State Automobile Inspection of Russian Federal Road Safety Service.

Glorious Russia
‘Glorious Russia’ playing cards made in France by Grimaud, c.1995