The Art & Design of Playing Cards
The playing card calls for artistic treatment and although the constrained size imposes some limitations there is an almost bewildering wealth and variety of designs in playing cards and their tuck boxes. The serious player requires design to be unobtrusive so that aesthetic considerations remain in the background. However, with modern manufacturing technology more eye-catching designs are becoming popular as gifts, collectibles and for their attractive appearance.
Prime Arts
Prime Arts Playing Cards were published in 2004 featuring the work of contemporary artists, illustrators and photographers.
Production Methods for Small Scale Editions
Some alternative approaches to producing small, hand-made editions of playing cards
Prof. Franciszek Bunsch
Prof. Franciszek Bunsch, Polish playing-card designer.
Punch Studio: ‘Geisha Girls’
‘Geisha Girls’ playing cards published by Punch Studio, Culver City, CA., 2013
Queen of Hearts
“Queen of Hearts” by Josie Callipari, winner of the Brian Tucker Accounting Desert Fantasia Award 2005
Regarding the designs of playing cards
The quality of playing card designs often deteriorates with time…
Relief of Vienna
“Relief of Vienna” tri-centenary pack, 1983
Renée Sturbelle
Artistic playing cards with abstract designs by Renée Sturbelle, first published by Brepols S.A., Turnhout, 1947.
Richard Wagner
Richard Wagner playing cards designed by Melchior Annen.
Ritter & Cie, 1933
A colourful re-working of the standard Anglo-American pattern in Art Deco style.
Roaring Twenties
Roaring Twenties playing cards by Angel Playing Cards Co Ltd, Japan. 1980.
Rococco
Designed by Josef Maria Melchior Annen (1868-1954) who also designed several other packs for Müller & Cie.
Rococo No.2130
Piatnik: Rococo No.2130 playing cards designed by Prof. Kuno Hock, c.1975
Rococo Playing Cards
Piatnik’s Rococo style playing cards issued as “Rococo Patience”, “Luxus-Patience”, “Empire Patience”, “White Horse Patience”, “Patience-Whist No.140” and “Mini Patience”
Roman Empire
Roman Empire playing cards designed by G. Wyatt for Green Board Game Co Ltd.,
Romance Español
“Romance Español” designed by Carlos Sáenz de Tejada and published by Heraclio Fournier in various editions since 1951.
Romanian playing cards by Alf Cooke
Romanian playing cards, manufactured and exported by the Universal Playing Card Co., Leeds, in the 1930s.
Russian Four Seasons
“Seasons” playing cards designed by U. P. Ivanov and published by The Colour Printing Plant in St Petersburg.
Russian Opera Scenes
Russian Opera & Theatre Scenes playing cards first published by the Colour Printing Plant (USSR, Russian Federation) in 1974
Salon-Karte No.66
Salon-Karte No.66 designed by Walter Krauss, 1970