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Playing cards have been with us since the 14th century, when they first entered popular culture. Over the centuries packs of cards, in all shapes and sizes, have been used for games, gambling, education, conjuring, advertising, fortune telling, political messages or the portrayal of national or ethnic identity. All over the world, whatever language is spoken, their significance is universal. Their popularity is also due to the imaginative artwork and graphic design which is sometimes overlooked, and the “then & now” of how things have changed.

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Nature, Wildlife & Environment

88 Articles

Black Peter

Two Black Peter games by Willy Mayrl published by Ferd Piatnik & Söhne, 1950s.

Black Peter

Zoo-Boots

Zoo-Boots published by E. S. & A. Robinson, c.1930s.

Zoo-Boots

So Fängt Es An

“So Fängt Es An” beautifully illustrated by M. Neugebauer, published by Helingsche Verlagsanstalt, c.1950.

So Fängt Es An

Abbatt Animal Families

Abbatt Toys Animal Families, c.1970.

Abbatt Animal Families

Corrida de Toros

Bull fighting card game publshed by Naipes Comas, 1969.

Corrida de Toros

Zooloo Misfitz

Zooloo Misfitz card game designed by George Lambert for C.W. Faulkner & Co, c.1907.

Zooloo Misfitz

Sapra Studio Original

Sapra Studio Original playing cards featuring wild animals of S Africa, 1999.

Sapra Studio Original

Natuurkwartet

Nature Quartet game published by Staatsbosbeheer, printed by Roem Speelkaarten, Kampen.

Natuurkwartet

Botany Quartetts

Botany card game published by Houlston and Wright & Henry Greenwood, c.1860.

Botany Quartetts

Snap

Snap card game illustrated with animals, by Whitman Publishing Co., 1951.

Snap

Animal Rummy

Animal Rummy by Whitman Publishing Co., 1951.

Animal Rummy

Deutsche Nutzpflanzen

Deutsche Nutzpflanzen - Quartett game promoting Kali brand crop fertilizer, 1938.

Deutsche Nutzpflanzen

Schwarzer Peter Der Wald und seine Leute

Schwarzer Peter the Forest and its People, illustrated by Liesel Lauterborn, 1955.

Schwarzer Peter Der Wald und seine Leute

Avilude or Game of Birds

Avilude or Game of Birds published by West & Lee, Worcester, Mass, c.1880.

Avilude or Game of Birds

Mr Bok

The Merry Game of Mr Bok and his Happy Families, promoting Bok furniture polish, 1930s.

Mr Bok

Greenpeace

Campaign deck for Greenpeace with drawings of penguins, seals, whales and dolphins.

Greenpeace

Flora

‘Flora’ card game published by C.W. Faulkner, printed by Dondorf, 1903.

Flora

Animal Misfitz

Animal Misfitz designed by George Lambert for Faulkner Games, c.1900.

Animal Misfitz

Carousel Playing Cards

Carousel Playing Cards commissioned by Tesco stores, 2019.

Carousel Playing Cards

Friendly Felines

‘Friendly Felines’ playing cards designed by Azured Ox, 2017.

Friendly Felines

National Geographic Nature

National Geographic Nature playing cards, 2006.

National Geographic Nature

Fungi Mycological Playing Cards

Mystic Mushrooms Playing Cards, 2018.

Fungi Mycological Playing Cards

Gerrymanders

Gerrymanders by Globe Series of Games, c.1900.

Gerrymanders

Freddy the Fox

Freddy the Fox card game published by Valentine & Sons, Ltd, c.1910.

Freddy the Fox

Zoological Misfitz

Zoological Misfitz card game published by C.W. Faulkner.

Zoological Misfitz

Zoo Fun

Zoo Fun card game no.445 by Warren Paper Products, c.1960s.

Zoo Fun

Animal Rummy

Animal Rummy by Warren Paper Products, c.1960s.

Animal Rummy

National Geographic: Weird But True

National Geographic: “Weird But True” kids fun fact playing cards, 2014.

National Geographic: Weird But True

Red Sea

Red Sea fish identification cards published in several languages by Horus of Egypt, 2005.

Red Sea

Little Grey Rabbit

Little Grey Rabbit illustrated by Margaret Tempest, 1954.

Little Grey Rabbit

Beatrix Potter’s Rummy

Beatrix Potter’s Rummy published by Gibsons Games, c.1985.

Beatrix Potter’s Rummy

Kleine Tierwelt

“Kleine Tierwelt” wildlife quartet game designed by Heinz Osthoff, published by Bielefelder Spielkarten GmbH, 1963.

Kleine Tierwelt

Schwarzer Peter

Schwarzer Peter animal pairs card game produced in Germany, c.1920s.

Schwarzer Peter

XVII Century Engraved Animal Cards

French suited German engraved cards c1610 to 1650,

XVII Century Engraved Animal Cards

Rat-a-Tat Cat

Rat-a-Tat Cat illustrated by Roni Shepherd, published by Gamewright Inc, Boston, 1997.

Rat-a-Tat Cat

Waves From Around the World

Waves From Around the World playing cards with photography by Aaron Chang.

Waves From Around the World

Scouting

Scouting, a card game about boy scouts, appeared in 1955.

Scouting

Forrest Cards, c.1750s

Hand-coloured Forrest Cards produced for “Young Gentlemen & Ladys who are Lovers of Ingenuity”, c.1750s.

Forrest Cards, c.1750s

Maldives Scenery

Maldives Scenery By Bamboo Souvenirs.

Maldives Scenery

Farmyard Cries

Farmyard Cries card game, designed by Racey Helps and published by Pepys Games, 1952.

Farmyard Cries

Maxi Puke 201 Circus Poker

Maxi Puke 201 Circus Poker brand produced by Wenyu Paper Products, Shanghai.

Maxi Puke 201 Circus Poker

Jeu de Mémory

Colourful Jeu de Mémory card game made in Taiwan, distributed in France by CMP Group.

Jeu de Mémory

Angler Skat

Angler Skat manufactured by VEB Altenburg, c.1981

Angler Skat

Hunter’s Bridge

“Hunter’s Bridge” playing cards by ASS depicting animals and associated symbols of hunting, c.1976.

Hunter’s Bridge

Art for the Earth

“Art for the Earth” Transformation Deck published by Andrew Jones Art for Friends of the Earth, c.1990.

Art for the Earth

Birds, Beasts and Fishes

The game of “Birds, Beasts and Fishes” published by Multum in Parvo Ltd, from 1896

Birds, Beasts and Fishes

Fish Playing Cards

Fish Playing Cards by Bamboo (Parksons Press).

Fish Playing Cards

Beesten Kwartet

Beesten Kwartet designed by Peter Vos. Published by Thomas Rap of Amsterdam, 1995.

Beesten Kwartet

Souvenir of New Zealand

Souvenir of New Zealand produced by Hema Maps NZ Limited

Souvenir of New Zealand

Die Vogel-Welt No. 351

Dondorf’s “Die Vogel-Welt” No. 351 quartet game, c.1905

Die Vogel-Welt No. 351

British Birds

Pepys “British Birds” card game with colour pictures, c.1968.

British Birds