Unimol playing cards
Advertising pack for a pharmaceutical company, with brightly coloured courts.
Unimol is a type of paracetamol. Pills, however, are not in evidence here. Instead, the court cards are very much in the non-violent Flower Power style of the late 1960s. The court card designs are the same in each suit, except that different colouring has been used in the red suits versus the black suits. There is text (captions) in Japanese on all the Aces and pip cards. The pips themselves are arranged in a non-standard layout from the 10s down to the 4s. On the backs are yellow and blue pansies within a gold frame on a white background.
By Roddy Somerville
Member since May 31, 2022
Roddy started collecting stamps on his 8th birthday. In 1977 he joined the newly formed playing-card department at Stanley Gibbons in London before setting up his own business in Edinburgh four years later. His collecting interests include playing cards, postcards, stamps (especially playing cards on stamps) and sugar wrappers. He is a Past President of the Scottish Philatelic Society, a former Chairman of the IPCS, a Past Master of the Worshipful Company of Makers of Playing Cards and Curator of the WCMPC’s collection of playing cards. He lives near Toulouse in France.
Related Articles
Woodblock and Stencil Jack of Hearts
A limited edition art print of the Jack of Hearts 1984 woodblock joker.
Woodblock and Stencil King of Diamonds
A limited edition art print of the King of Diamonds 1984 woodblock joker.
Woodblock and Stencil Joker
A limited edition art print of the 1984 woodblock joker.
Woodblock and Stencil Jack of Clubs
A limited edition art print of the Jack of Clubs 1984 woodblock joker.
Guanlangaoshou / Slam Dunk playing cards
Basketball-themed manga animated playing cards from Japan.
Merz Pharma Skat
Comic designs promoting Merz Pharma, a German drug company.
Hansaplast®
Advertising pack for Hansaplast, with comic courts sporting sticking plasters.
B. Braun-Dexon®
Publicity pack promoting B. Braun-Dexon’s atraumatic needles, with non-standard courts and pips.
Jeu des Médecins
Cartoons of doctors and nurses by Pino Zac, published by B.P. Grimaud in 1983.
Carte Osteologiche
Skulls and bones of all descriptions have become the suits and pips in this 40-card pack from Italy....
SEMP playing cards
Modified Anglo-American courts advertising a French medical publishing company.
Sylvanian Families mini playing cards
Miniature cards in sheet form with Sylvanian Families characters on the courts and Jokers.
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots
“Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots” video game characters on playing cards, Japan, 2008
Banjo playing cards
Banjo playing cards featuring the collection of Akira Tsumura, Japan, c. 1978.
Specsavers playing cards
to help you see better when playing cards
Netter playing cards
Anatomical playing cards published by Elsevier, USA, 2017.
Kyoto Souvenir Deck
Kyoto Souvenir playing cards by Nintendo aimed at the up and coming tourist industry, 1950s.
Back to the 80s Lenormand
History meets pop culture in a 36-card set that pays tribute to Lenormand's legacy and the colourful...
Seiko fashion cards
Men's and ladies fashion playing cards published for the Seiko Corporation by Nintendo, Japan, 1971....
Flora playing cards
Flora playing cards made by the Angel Playing Card Co., Kyoto, 1982.
Nippon Beer
Nippon Beer brewery playing cards published by Nintendo, Japan, 1960s.
Glico Almond Chocolate
Glico Almond Chocolate playing cards with designs by Izumi Tamai, produced by Nintendo, Japan.
Panty cards
Panty cards designed by Hide Takagaki, Japan, 1982.
Suzuki playing cards
Suzuki playing cards produced by Nintendo, Japan, 1978.
Kushimoto Marine Park
Kushimoto Marine Park souvenir playing cards published by Nintendo, Japan.
Chandelier No. 55 (Nintendo)
Standard international pattern playing cards made in occupied Japan, c.1950.
Loco Jumbo playing cards
54 different colour photographs of steam locomotives from around the world.
Haig Whisky
Japanese advertising pack for Haig Scotch whisky with modified international courts.
Kawasaki Trump
Humorous publicity pack for Kawasaki featuring some of their many products.
Maxim playing cards
Publicity pack from Nintendo for Maxim freeze dried coffee.
Ukiyo-E (Nintendo)
Classic examples of Ukiyo-E painting.
Packs of Prizes
‘Packs of Prizes’ playing cards advertising Neosorexa pest control products.
Salmon playing cards
13 colour photographs showing the life cycle of the salmon by Nintendo, Japan.
Crazyrider playing cards
Stylised portrayal of rock musicians from the 1980s.
Covid-19 playing cards
Covid-19 playing cards designed by Stacey Kelly, United Kingdom, 2020.
Amistar playing cards
Publicity pack for product which controls fungal diseases in a range of crops, printed by Trefl, Kra...
Fan DACK Playing CARD
Unusual cards in the shape of skittles, intended for fanning.
Sushi playing cards
Sushi playing cards illustrating different types and styles of sushi, USA, 2004.
Tokyo Disneyland Playing Cards
Disney themed playing cards featuring Mickey Mouse and his friends; available at Tokyo Disneyland in...
Japanese McDonald’s Playing Cards
McDonald’s Playing Cards for the Japanese market featuring McDonald's characters that appear in comm...
Nintendo deck with Medieval theme
Courts in medieval costume holding both French and Italian/Spanish suit-signs.
Unimol playing cards
Advertising pack for a pharmaceutical company, with brightly coloured courts.
Torys Western Cards
Promotional pack for a brand of Japanese whisky, featuring comic Wild West characters.
Laser Clay playing cards
Pack promoting the Laser Clay Shooting System created by Nintendo in 1973.