Playing Cards for Consumer Advertising, Marketing & Promotion
Closely following the development of visual advertising in general, such as on labels, packaging, posters and TV commercials, advertising playing cards seek to find ways to associate products with our inner desires and longings, with our identity and who we want to be. Some packs are widely distributed as part of larger promotions, others are more exclusive. In some cases single cards are collected from inside the advertised product, thereby stimulating further sales to complete a full set.
Redheads
These unusual and striking playing cards were published sometime in the late 1970s or early 1980s by the iconic Australian brand of matches, Bryant & May. Whilst the same court card images are used in each suit, the numeral cards employ matches arranged geometrically instead of the normal pips.
Roche Playing Cards
Roche Pharmaceutical playing cards, 1980s.
Roldan Tobacco Cards, Peru
Tobacco cards with miniature playing cards inset into top corners, printed by Litografía y Tipografía Fabbri Hermanos, for Roldan y Cia Tobacco, Lima, c.1895.
Rombach + Co Skat
Publicity pack designed by Uschi Dorner for a bookshop in Freiburg im Breisgau.
Royal Dutch Mail
Elegant “Nieuw Neerlandia” pattern designed by M.A. Koekkoek and produced by Speelkaartenfabriek Nederland, c.1930s
Sands & McDougall Aces & Jokers
Sands & McDougall produced many beautiful Spade Aces and Jokers.
Scheffmacher
Advertising pack for Scheffmacher, master painters in Schaffhausen, with comic designs by Fritz Bünzli.
Schincariol Beer, Nossagraf, Brazil
Schincariol Cerveja Pilsen brewery playing cards manufactured by Gráfica Nossa Senhora Aparecida Ltda (Nossagraf), Brazil
Schwäbisch Hall
Schwäbisch Hall building society publicity deck designed by Alex Kardas, c.1975.
Schwarzkopf BC Bonacure
Schwarzkopf BC Bonacure playing cards promoting the ultimate hair perfection.
Scooby-Doo! playing cards for Hellmann’s Magic
Miniature Spanish-suited playing cards featuring Scooby-Doo! made specially for Hellmann’s.
SEMP playing cards
Modified Anglo-American courts advertising a French medical publishing company.
Seven Seas Maori Playing Cards
A Gift from New Zealand
Shipping
A survey of modern Shipping advertising playing cards
Shrek the Third playing cards
Characters from the 2007 film Shrek the Third, a DreamWorks Animation production.
Sigma Coatings
Advertising pack for a company supplying marine paints.
Sikar
Publicity playing cards for the Dutch credit company Sitters & van der Kar. The four Aces and Joker feature abstract geometric designs in the style of Art Deco.
Singapore Airlines
Singapore Airlines A330 flying experience souvenir playing cards
Sony IBC’86
Sony IBC’86 complimentary pack showcasing latest electronic and digital equipment as it stood in 1986.
Souvenir of Scotland
52 Selected Views of Scotland produced for United Cigar & Tobacco Co. Ltd, Glasgow, Scotland by Raphael Tuck & Sons Ltd.