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Wartime Playing Cards

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Wartime Playing Cards

Wartime playing cards and card games are those that were produced during times of war and were often designed with patriotic themes or propaganda messages. They were distributed to soldiers and civilians alike and served as a form of entertainment and morale booster during times of conflict. Wartime playing cards often feature images of military leaders, soldiers and patriotic symbols, such as national flags or eagles.

• See also "Most Wanted" • "Military" • "Army"

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Seminole Wars deck by James Y. Humphreys, Philadelphia, c.1819

Seminole Wars deck by James Y. Humphreys, Philadelphia, c.1819

Court cards from the Seminole Wars deck by J. Y. Humphreys, Philadelphia, c.1819. Ace of Spades from Jazaniah Ford's Decatur deck, 1815. Jazaniah Ford was born in Milton (Massachusetts) in 1757

Siegfried Line

Siegfried Line

“We’re Gonna Hang Out the Washing on the Siegfried Line” wartime card game made by William Sessions Ltd, 1940s

Sister Susie Snap 1915

Sister Susie Snap

Sister Susie Snap published by Valentine & Sons Ltd, c.1915.

Spy 1915

Spy

Spy card game published by Valentine’s Games, c.1915.

Squadron Scramble 1942

Squadron Scramble

“Squadron Scramble” card games for identifying military planes, Whitman Publishing Co., Racine, Wisconsin, 1942.

Submarine Cards 1941

Submarine Cards

Lighting in submarines involved wearing red goggles to preserve night vision for viewing instrument panels. The goggles solved one problem but created another: the red suits on playing cards were not visible through the red goggles.

Temple Press War Planes 1940

Temple Press War Planes

“War Planes” playing cards for aircraft recognition published by Temple Press Limited, c.1940.

The Forces’ Favourites 2006

The Forces’ Favourites

The Forces’ Favourites playing cards with glamorous illustrations by David Wright, United Kingdom, 2006.

Theatre of Pain / Teatr Boli 2005

Theatre of Pain / Teatr Boli

Theatre of Pain / Teatr boli playing cards depicting politicians and leaders in the Caucasus territorial disputes.

They’re Off 1940

They’re Off

“They’re Off” horse racing card game by Pepys, c.1940.

Thoth Tarot – Aleister Crowley Tarot 1972

Thoth Tarot – Aleister Crowley Tarot

Aleister Crowley Tarot – the sombre luminary – Crowley and Lady Freda Harris worked on the illustrations between 1938 and 1943

Try’em playing cards 2003

Try’em playing cards

Try’em: the U.S. Regime Change, or “52 Most Wanted Criminals” c. 2003.

United Nations of Weasels 2003

United Nations of Weasels

“United Nations of Weasels” anti-war political playing cards, USA, 2003.

Vacuation 1940

Vacuation

“Vacuation” published by Pepys games, based on the evacuation of children to Reception Areas in the countryside during WW2, c.1939-40.

Victory 1945

Victory

“Victory" cards celebrating U.S. participation in the Allied victory, c.1945.

Victory 1940

Victory

“Victory” by Pepys Games, a splendid game with caricatures of British and German leaders, published in 1940.

Victory Snap 1941

Victory Snap

Wartime Snap, a memoir of past times, c.1941.

War Aid

War Aid

Hadsegélyzö Kártya ('War Aid Pack' or 'War Aid Cards') Nr. 63 designed by Leo Kober and first published by Piatnik, Budapest, in 1917.

War Party playing cards 2003

War Party playing cards

War Party playing cards, in opposition to the Iraq War, USA, 2003.

War Profiteers playing cards 2004

War Profiteers playing cards

“War Profiteers” playing cards, USA, c. 2004.