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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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Browsing keyword:

navy

21 Articles

Anma US Armed Forces

Anma US Armed Forces, 1942.

Anma US Armed Forces

Naval and Military Families

Naval and Military Families produced by Prince and Princess Louis of Battenberg, printed by Ernst Nister of Nuremberg, c.1905-10.

Naval and Military Families

Patriotic Misfitz

Patriotic Misfitz published by C.W Faulkner & Co, Ltd, c.1906.

Patriotic Misfitz

European Naval Powers

“XVI Century European Naval Powers” deck illustrated by Isabel Ibáñez de Sendadiano and produced by Heraclio Fournier in 1981.

European Naval Powers

Servicio de Hidrografía Naval

125th anniversary of the Argentine Naval Hydrographic Service, 2004.

Servicio de Hidrografía Naval

England Expects

‘England Expects’ card game published by Pepys Games in 1940.

England Expects

Convoy

“Convoy” WW2 card game published by Tree Brand c.1940, based on wartime naval convoys.

Convoy

Corsaires et Flibustiers

“Corsaires et Flibustiers” playing cards created by G. Delluc and published by Éditions Philibert, Paris, 1958.

Corsaires et Flibustiers

Ship Sails

“Ship Sails” card game c.1885.

Ship Sails

Sefite card game

“Sefite” card game, Woolley & Co,. Ltd, London, c.1905

Sefite card game

Speelkaartenfabriek Nederland Maritime Deck

Dutch Maritime pack designed by J.Verhoeven and printed by Speelkaartenfabriek Nederland c1938

Speelkaartenfabriek Nederland Maritime Deck

Salute!

Salute! The Four Services promotion game by John Jaques & Son Ltd, London, c.1940.

Salute!

Historic Ships

“Historic Ships” quartet game from Czechoslovakia illustrated by Jaromír Vraštil.

Historic Ships

ARRCO

ARRCO Playing Card Co., Chicago, c.1935 - c.1970s.

ARRCO

Our Ship

The “New Game of Our Ship”, published by Chas Goodall & Son, London, 1896.

Our Ship

Gdynia-America Line

Non-standard playing cards produced by Artex (Budapest) for the Gdynia-America Line, Poland, c.1958.

Gdynia-America Line

Seven Seas Playing Cards

The deck is about the dichotomy of a life at sea. Exploring famous sailors, explorers, pirates, and privateers of the age of sail.

Seven Seas Playing Cards

Army & Navy

Andrew Dougherty’s Army & Navy deck from the Civil War era, c.1865.

Army & Navy

Army No.303

The Joker is particularly persuasive, whilst the Ace of Spades has a battle scene involving artillery, with Navy ships in the distance and the statue of the goddess of Freedom in the middle.

Army No.303

Cruiser Playing Cards

Dougherty's ‘Cruiser No.96’, first published c.1897, was dedicated to the U.S. Navy..

Cruiser Playing Cards

Jolly Jack Tar Snap

Jolly Jack Tar Snap made in England, 1920s.

Jolly Jack Tar Snap