Art & Design
The design of a pack of playing cards involves a balance between utilitarian constraints and artistic possibilities.
‘El Cid’ designed by E. Pastor, Valencia, Spain, c.1875
‘El Cid’ fantasy playing cards designed by E. Pastor, Valencia, Spain, c.1875

14: Back Designs
A few examples of the many interesting back designs.

1893 Worshipful Company Pack
Worshipful Company Pack manufactured by Chas Goodall & Son, 1893.

19: 19th Century Breaks With Tradition - Unusual Versions of the Standard English Pattern
The centuries-long tradition of English court cards was subject to misinterpretation and in some cases a desire for individuality. Here are some examples of breaks with that tradition.

1900 Jeu de Cartes
‘Jeu de Cartes 1900’ designed by Marie Christine Schira in the Art Nouveau or Jugendstil style, 1979.

26th Yankee Division
“26th Yankee Division Playing Cards” was designed by Alban B. Butler, Jr and printed by the Press of the Woolly Whale, New York, in 1933.

28: How to Analyze and Differentiate Playing Card Plates (De La Rue, Waddington and the Berlin pattern [französisches Bild])
My interest in postage stamp variants led me to apply the same principles to playing cards.
![28: How to Analyze and Differentiate Playing Card Plates (De La Rue, Waddington and the Berlin pattern [französisches Bild]) 28: How to Analyze and Differentiate Playing Card Plates (De La Rue, Waddington and the Berlin pattern [französisches Bild])](http://www.wopc.co.uk/core/cache/wopc/thumbs/var/www/wopc.co.uk/htdocs/images/blog/2015/10/JS_D1-D2-D3.71cb0cdb.jpg)
33: Functional Changes to Playing Cards
The emphasis throughout my collecting has been on the design of the courts cards, and it should be pointed out that there have been some functional changes to cards, which have affected the traditional designs, especially in the 19th century.

40: More on Design Copies and Fakes
The issue of design copies needs further consideration and when does a copy become a fake?

51: Some modern variation
A brief survey of some of the current variation in the standard English pattern.

59: Owen Jones (1809-74) and De La Rue
A selection of examples of Owen Jones's work printed by De La Rue.

68: Playing cards in glass
My wife and I have recently commissioned a unique pair of stained glass windows for our home.

About Emily Arkin
Emily Arkin is an artist from Somerville, MA.

About Peter Wood
PETER WOOD is a UK based artist.

About Shelley Fowles
Shelley Fowles was born in South Africa but has lived in the United Kingdom since 1979. She trained in Art in Brighton and London.

African Art
“African Art” Playing cards by John J. Beckvermit III, 1994

Age of Dragons
Age of Dragons by Anne Stokes, 2017.

Alcatel
Alcatel playing cards published by Éditions Dusserre, c.1970s

Alfreds Scwedrevitz
This pack was issued during wartime, in 1936, under the name “Latvian Red Cross Cards No.7”.

Alice
Alice with artwork by Jesús Blasco, published by Lo Scarabeo, 2003.

Alice in Wonderland
Alice in Wonderland playing cards designed by Sasha Dounaevski, 2018.

America
“America” playing cards designed by Teodoro N Miciano, 1960.

Ancient Civilisations
Ancient Civilisations playing cards designed by Celedonio Perellón, produced by Heraclio Fournier, 1973.

Anna Gaber
Anna Gaber playing cards from Poland.

Anne Stokes Collection
Anne Stokes Collection playing cards, 2010.

Anonymous Dutch deck, 1940s
Anonymous Dutch deck, 1940s

Arnold Schönberg
In around 1909 he created three sets of playing cards. His inventiveness was driven by a passion for rules, order and numbers.

Balázs Pál Nagy's Playing Cards
Balázs Pál Nagy's Playing Cards

Balázs Pál Nagy's Tell No. 3306 Playing Cards
Balázs Pál Nagy Tell 3306

Banco for Air France, c.1952
Banco playing cards for Air France manufactured by Draeger Frères, c.1952.

Banque Nationale de Paris, c.1962
Special deck made for La Banque Nationale de Paris by Van Genechten, Turnhout, c.1962.

Baracca & Burattini
Baracca & Burattini puppetry deck printed by Dal Negro, 1998.

Baraja "Te Amo" cartoons by Serafín
Baraja 'Te Amo' con dibujos de Serafín en tirada de 500 ejemplares numerados, 48 naipes. Fabricado por Naipes Comas (Barcelona) 2002.

Baraja “Neoclásica”, Madrid, 1810
Baraja “Neoclásica” engraved by José Martínez de Castro, first published by Clemente Roxas, Madrid, 1810.

Baraja Asescoin 1998
Asescoin 1998 member’s pack designed by Josep Soriano.

Baraja Cuauhtémoc
Baraja Cuauhtémoc published by Treviño Narro, Monterrey, Mexico Original artwork by P. X. Santaella featuring Aztec and other important pre-Columbian cultures.

Baraja Digital
Baraja Digital by Naipes De La Cigüeña, 1990.

Baraja Edad Media
Baraja Edad Media, fantasy Spanish-suited medieval playing cards published Mas-Reynals, Barcelona, 1993. Designed by M. Malé and illustrated by V. Maza.

Baraja Literaria
“Baraja Literaria” Spanish pack with cartoons by Serafín, published by Asescoin and manufactured by Naipes Comas, 2002.

Baraja Marinera
‘Baraja Marinera’ designed by Francisco Javier San Juan, published by Asescoin (Madrid), 1995

Baraja Mitológica
“Baraja Mitológica” was first published in Madrid in c.1815 by Josef Monjardín from engravings by José Martínez de Castro.

Baraja PEPLVM
Baraja PEPLVM features cartoons by Ortuño of famous actors and actresses in roles from epic Roman movies.

Baroque No.2118
“Baroque” by Ferd Piatnik & Sons, Vienna, reflecting a bygone era of fashion.

Barribal Series
William H. Barribal (1873 - 1956) was a London artist who created the Waddingtons 'Barribal' playing cards series, which are avidly collected today.

Bartlett Ackermann Transformation
Pictorial playing cards published by C. Bartlett, New York, 1833.

Basler Fasnachts-Karten
The Basler Fasnachts deck is designed each year by a different local artist.

Berliner Originale
“Berliner Originale” designed by Manfred Bofinger, 1986.

Bharata Playing Cards
Bharata Playing Cards - Series 2, based on Indian folk art, published by Sunish Chabba, 2018.

Bicycle 808 Bourbon
Bicycle 808 Bourbon themed deck by US Playing Card Company 2017.

Bicycle Butterfly
Bicycle Butterfly playing cards from RSVP Magic with artwork by ‘Lotrék’ and printed by USPCC, 2012.

Bicycle Knights
Bicycle Knights playing cards designed by Sam Hayles in 2018.
