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.
Literary Figures
Non-Standard Literary Figures playing cards manufactured by Ferd. Piatnik & Söhne A.G., Vienna, 1924.
Martín Fierro
Naipes “Martín Fierro” based on the epic poem by José Hernandez.
Mary Whitmore Jones and her Chastleton Patience Board
Mary Whitmore Jones and her Chastleton Patience Board by Tony Hall.
New Style ‘Jugendstil’
Playing cards showing the influence of ‘Jugendstil’ manufactured by the Soviet Playing Card Monopoly (U.S.S.R.).
Noddy Happy Families
Enid Blyton’s Noddy Happy Families was published in 1955 by Sampson Low, 25 Gilbert Street, London W.1., manufactured in Great Britain.
Old Testament playing cards
Old Testament playing cards with illustrations by Jan Padover, USA, 2012.
On The Cards
A Motley Pack - transformation playing cards & ‘On The Cards’ book facsimile published by Sunish Chabba, 2019.
Pinocchio playing cards
Comic book drawings inspired by Carlo Collodi’s children’s classic, Pinocchio.
Pushkin
Pack designed by M. Rydaeva celebrating the 200th anniversary of Alexander Pushkin’s birth.
San Paolo Chekhov
Characters from Chekhov’s plays designed by Paolo Fresu for San Paolo Istituto Bancario, Italy, c.1983.
Scientific American
‘Scientific American’ playing cards depicting 19th century illustrations of inventions.
Shakespeare finely illustrated playing cards
Shakespeare playing cards with illustrations by Sir John Gilbert RA, United Kingdom.
Shakespeare Playing Cards
Kickstarter-funded modern remake of the 1902 classic pack, perfect for Shakespeare
and literature fans.Shakespeare Playing Cards
Shakespeare Playing Cards pack published in the 1890s with original paintings are by John H. Bacon.
Shakespeare playing cards: Insults
Shakespeare Insults playing cards with portraits by Jan Padover, USA, 2005.
Shakespeare playing cards: Quotes
Shakespeare playing cards: Quotes, the first volume of a double set published by Prospero Art of San Francisco, 2004.
Shakespearean
Shakespearean Playing Cards designed by Frederick Colin Tilney, made by John Waddington Limited, 1932-3.
Sherlock Holmes
Sherlock Holmes deck with caricatures by Jeff Decker published by Gemaco Playing Card Co. 1989.
Sherlock Holmes illustrated playing cards
Sherlock Holmes playing cards with illustrations by Sidney Paget, United Kingdom
Sherlock Holmes Playing Cards
Three fine deck of playing cards inspired by the characters and stories of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.