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
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by Simon Wintle
‘El Cid’ fantasy playing cards designed by E. Pastor, Valencia, Spain, c.1875
1875
1893 Worshipful Company Pack
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by Rod Starling
Worshipful Company Pack manufactured by Chas Goodall & Son, 1893.
19: 19th Century Breaks With Tradition - Unusual Versions of the Standard English Pattern
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by Ken Lodge
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
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by Matt Probert
‘Jeu de Cartes 1900’ designed by Marie Christine Schira in the Art Nouveau or Jugendstil style, 1979.
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.
1933
28: How to Analyze and Differentiate Playing Card Plates (De La Rue, Waddington and the Berlin pattern [französisches Bild])
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by Ken Lodge
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])](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 "28: How to Analyze and Differentiate Playing Card Plates (De La Rue, Waddington and the Berlin pattern [französisches Bild])")
33: Functional Changes to Playing Cards
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by Ken Lodge
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
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by Ken Lodge
The issue of design copies needs further consideration and when does a copy become a fake?
51: Some modern variation
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by Ken Lodge
A brief survey of some of the current variation in the standard English pattern.
59: Owen Jones (1809-74) and De La Rue
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by Ken Lodge
A selection of examples of Owen Jones's work printed by De La Rue.
68: Playing cards in glass
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by Ken Lodge
My wife and I have recently commissioned a unique pair of stained glass windows for our home.
2001
About Shelley Fowles
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by Simon Wintle
Shelley Fowles was born in South Africa but has lived in the United Kingdom since 1979. She trained in Art in Brighton and London.
1994
2017
Alfreds Scwedrevitz
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by Simon Wintle
This pack was issued during wartime, in 1936, under the name “Latvian Red Cross Cards No.7”.
1936
2003
Alice in Wonderland
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by Simon Wintle
Alice in Wonderland playing cards designed by Sasha Dounaevski, 2018.
2018
Ancient Civilisations
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by Simon Wintle
Ancient Civilisations playing cards designed by Celedonio Perellón, produced by Heraclio Fournier, 1973.
1973
2010
Arnold Schönberg
In around 1909 he created three sets of playing cards. His inventiveness was driven by a passion for rules, order and numbers.
1909
Banco for Air France, c.1952
Banco playing cards for Air France manufactured by Draeger Frères, c.1952.
1952
Banque Nationale de Paris, c.1962
Special deck made for La Banque Nationale de Paris by Van Genechten, Turnhout, c.1962.
1962
1990
Baraja "Te Amo" cartoons by Serafín
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by Simon Wintle
Baraja 'Te Amo' con dibujos de Serafín en tirada de 500 ejemplares numerados, 48 naipes. Fabricado por Naipes Comas (Barcelona) 2002.
2002
Baraja “Neoclásica”, Madrid, 1810
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by Simon Wintle
Baraja “Neoclásica” engraved by José Martínez de Castro, first published by Clemente Roxas, Madrid, 1810.
1810
1998
Baraja Cuauhtémoc
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by Simon Wintle
Baraja Cuauhtémoc published by Treviño Narro, Monterrey, Mexico Original artwork by P. X. Santaella featuring Aztec and other important pre-Columbian cultures.
1950
1990
Baraja Edad Media
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by Simon Wintle
Baraja Edad Media, fantasy Spanish-suited medieval playing cards published Mas-Reynals, Barcelona, 1993. Designed by M. Malé and illustrated by V. Maza.
1993
Baraja Literaria
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by Simon Wintle
“Baraja Literaria” Spanish pack with cartoons by Serafín, published by Asescoin and manufactured by Naipes Comas, 2002.
2002
Baraja Marinera
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by Simon Wintle
‘Baraja Marinera’ designed by Francisco Javier San Juan, published by Asescoin (Madrid), 1995
1995
Baraja Mitológica
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by Simon Wintle
“Baraja Mitológica” was first published in Madrid in c.1815 by Josef Monjardín from engravings by José Martínez de Castro.
1815
Baraja PEPLVM
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by Simon Wintle
Baraja PEPLVM features cartoons by Ortuño of famous actors and actresses in roles from epic Roman movies.
2004
Baroque No.2118
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by Rod Starling
“Baroque” by Ferd Piatnik & Sons, Vienna, reflecting a bygone era of fashion.
Barribal Series
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by Simon Wintle
William H. Barribal (1873 - 1956) was a London artist who created the Waddingtons 'Barribal' playing cards series, which are avidly collected today.
1933
Bartlett Ackermann Transformation
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by Simon Wintle
Pictorial playing cards published by C. Bartlett, New York, 1833.
1833
Basler Fasnachts-Karten
The Basler Fasnachts deck is designed each year by a different local artist.
1986
Bharata Playing Cards
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by Simon Wintle
Bharata Playing Cards - Series 2, based on Indian folk art, published by Sunish Chabba, 2018.
2018
Bicycle 808 Bourbon
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by Matt Probert
Bicycle 808 Bourbon themed deck by US Playing Card Company 2017.
2017
Bicycle Butterfly
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by Matt Probert
Bicycle Butterfly playing cards from RSVP Magic with artwork by ‘Lotrék’ and printed by USPCC, 2012.
2012
2018