Literature and Playing Cards
Wherever there is freedom of expression books, articles and other literary sources such as adventure stories, folk tales, historical or scientific literature have all been inspiration for artists, including designers of playing cards and educational games.
Boekenkwartet
Boekenkwartet featuring illustrations from children's books, 1970s.
Characters from Charles Dickens
“Characters from Charles Dickens” card game published by Jaques & Son, c.1880.
Characters of “The Water Margin”
Characters from the Chinese novel “The Water Margin” - 水滸撲克.
Crikey!
Crikey! Classic British Comics playing cards published by Bird Playing Cards, 2013.
De La Rue Pocket Guides
The 19th Century saw the production, by all of the major companies, of pocket guides or “mini-books” on every type of game.
Dead Souls
Dead Souls, or “Mertvye dushi igral’nye karty” produced in 2006 by Aleksei Orleanskii.
Dickens Character Collection
Dickens Character Collection published for a London Casino as a promotional gift.
Dickens Snap
Dickens Snap, c.1890.
Dogs
‘Dogs’ playing cards showcases 52 canine portraits in four suits as authors, artists, musicians and film stars, illustrated by Chet Phillips, 2016
Don Quijote IV Centenario
Baraja IV Centenario Don Quijote is the work of artist Vicente Arnás, published by Asescoin, Madrid, 2004.
Don Quixote playing cards
Don Quixote playing cards designed by Nam Tibon, USA, 2016.
Dorset Dialect Trails
‘Dorset Dialect Trails’ playing cards, United Kingdom, 2015.
Early History of Playing Cards & Timeline
Out of an apparent void, a constellation of references in early literature emerge pointing to the sudden arrival of playing cards, principally in Belgium, Germany, Spain and Italy around 1370-1380. Discover the early history of playing cards in our timeline from 50AD to the 15th century.
Edgar Allan Poe Playing Cards
A Kickstarter campaign for a fine deck of playing cards inspired by the works of Edgar Allan Poe
El Gato con Botas
Puss in Boots card game manufactured by H. Fournier, 1981.
Eneida
This pack was designed by Oksana Ternavska and first published in 2011 as a supplement to the book "Eneida", a poem written by Ivan Kotliarevsky in 1798.
EPCS August 1998 Newsletter Members Only
Stained Glass Windows: Lewis Carroll • Isle of Man Packs • Hand Decorated Transformation Pack • Happy Families: Cadbury MISFITZ • World Cup 1998 • New Issues: MISFITZ • Lyons Corner Houses: NIPPIES • Jovial Families: G.BROS Ltd • WG Grace Anniversary • English Standard Card Manufacturers • Nursery Rhyme Snap: Mother Goose • World of Alice: Lewis Carroll • De La Rue: Walt Disney Packs • SNAP: Geraldine Goodwin • Non Standard Pack: De La Rue Denmark 1950
EPCS February 2024 Newsletter Members Only
Lenthall's Delightful Cards • Cards supposedly by Wheeler • No, It Isn't an Early Wheeler • Chloe Campbell's Wren Cards • Speed: the Motor Cards • “Melox” Happy Families • Playing Cards for the Pegu Club • Military Card Backs • The Worshipful Company • Cards 2023-24 • The Blitz and Wartime Card Production in Britain • Henry Reason's Game of Parliament • Aesop's Fables
EPCS May 1991 Newsletter Members Only
Royal Residence: Buckingham Palace • Alf Cooke and Universal • Rupert Bear • SPELIT Lyon's Tea • Steamship SS Great Britain • 1980 & 1981 Worshipful Company Packs • CWS SNAP • Thomas De La Rue • OXO • Primrose Day • Harrods • Tonic to the Nation • The Festival of Britain 1951
Fairy Tales
German Fairy Tales Card Game.