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John Waddington Ltd

Waddington’s Playing Cards

John Waddington Limited was a leading producer of playing cards and card games in the UK during the period 1922-1995. The company had been founded in the nineteenth century by Mr John Waddington and Wilson Barratt as Waddingtons Ltd.

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Help Yourself Society

Help Yourself Society

The “Help Yourself” Society was formed in 1927 to run fundraising activities for hospitals.

Historical Characters 1994

Historical Characters

“Historical Characters” playing cards printed by Waddington’s for Thermawear Ltd, 1994.

Hollywood Greats playing cards 1985

Hollywood Greats playing cards

18 stars in black and white from the Golden Age of Hollywood.

Holmblads No. 121 1935

Holmblads No. 121

Holmblads No. 121 made by John Waddington, England, for Denmark

Hoover Ltd Playing Cards 1930

Hoover Ltd Playing Cards

Vintage cartoon courts and ace of spades specially designed for Hoover Limited, with full colour back showing the Art Deco style Hoover factory at Perivale, manufactured by Waddington's Playing Cards, c.1930.

John Waddington Ltd, early type

John Waddington Ltd, early type

John Waddington Ltd, early type Ace of Spades and court cards, 1922-30.

Kon-Vex Playing Cards

Kon-Vex Playing Cards

Waddington’s introduced a series of unusual shapes in the early 1950s.

Lexicon 1932

Lexicon

The summer of 1932 saw the introduction of Lexicon, when a small edition was produced and sold to test the market.

Little Demons 1970

Little Demons

“Little Demons” playing cards illustrated by Wayne Anderson, c.1970

Manchester United Playing Cards 2006

Manchester United Playing Cards

Deck produced for Manchester United Football Club published in 2006.

Michelin Tyres 1970

Michelin Tyres

Michelin Tyres playing cards by Waddingtons, c.1970.

My Word 1980

My Word

My Word “The last word in card games” designed by Michael Kindred and Malcolm Smith, published in 1980 by Waddingtons.

Orient-Express Playing Cards 1990

Orient-Express Playing Cards

Orient Express playing cards evoking a bygone era of chauffeurs, monocles and exoticism. Manufactured by Waddingtons, c.1990.

Ormond Printing Co. Ltd

Ormond Printing Co. Ltd

During the 1930s The Ormond Printing Co. Ltd produced playing cards for the Irish market with a distinctive ace of spades, joker and court cards. In 1935 the firm was acquired as a manufacturing facility for Waddington’s cards in Eire.

Pack of Diets 1984

Pack of Diets

“Pack of Diets” healthy lifestyle playing cards by Waddingtons Games for Figure Dynamics Ltd. in 1984.

Pooltella 1930

Pooltella

Pooltella cards by John Waddington Ltd, the cards that simplify football pool forecasts, 1930s.

Queen’s Silver Jubilee 1977 1977

Queen’s Silver Jubilee 1977

Queen’s Silver Jubilee playing cards designed by Susan Rae for John Wadddington Ltd, 1977.

Radio Banker 1930

Radio Banker

Radio Banker by John Waddington Ltd for Marconiphone Co Ltd.

S. Salomon & Co Nr.154 1935

S. Salomon & Co Nr.154

Nr.154 Holmblads made by John Waddington Ltd specially for S. Salomon & Co., Copenhagen

Shakespearean 1932

Shakespearean

Shakespearean Playing Cards designed by Frederick Colin Tilney, made by John Waddington Limited, 1932-3.