Birds of Southern Africa
Sapra Studio Original playing cards beautifully illustrated with birds of Southern Africa.
This plastic coated 54 card pack includes two Jokers – a Red Joker and a Black Joker. Each colourful card displays as many as three different birds native to Southern Africa. It was published by Sapra Studio, Nairobi, Kenya but was probably printed by Modiano of Italy. The double ended reverse portrays flamingos.
Above: Sapra Studio Original playing cards featuring birds of Southern Africa. The artist is not known.
By Peter Burnett
United Kingdom • Member since July 27, 2022
I graduated in Russian and East European Studies from Birmingham University in 1969. It was as an undergraduate in Moscow in 1968 that I stumbled upon my first 3 packs of “unusual” playing cards which fired my curiosity and thence my life-long interest. I began researching and collecting cards in the early 1970s, since when I’ve acquired over 3,330 packs of non-standard cards, mainly from North America, UK and Western Europe, and of course from Russia and the former communist countries.
Following my retirement from the Bodleian Library in Dec. 2007 I took up a new role as Head of Library Development at the International Network for the Availability of Scientific Publications (INASP) to support library development in low-income countries. This work necessitated regular training visits to many sub-Saharan African countries and also further afield, to Vietnam, Nepal and Bangladesh – all of which provided rich opportunities to further expand my playing card collection.
Since 2019 I’ve been working part-time in the Bodleian Library where I’ve been cataloguing the bequest of the late Donald Welsh, founder of the English Playing Card Society.
Activity for Birds of Southern Africa
Sign in to comment or save this article.
Related Articles
SCAC Jean Picart le Doux
A Jean Picart le Doux pack with a sea theme.
New Environment deck
New environment deck / Nouveau jeu de cartes sur l’environnement, Canada.
Greenpeace anti-nuclear playing cards
Greenpeace anti-nuclear pack with facts and figures, United Kingdom, 2003.
A Bouquet of Pheasants
A Bouquet of Pheasants playing cards produced by Jennifer Gaudion, United Kingdom, 2019.
Everest playing cards
Everest playing cards, Nepal
Logger-Reno
A tribute to the logging industry with suits of trees and trucks.
All 14 Highest Mountains, Nepal
All the 14 Highest Mountain Peaks, Nepal.
East African Playing Cards no. 2
Colour photographs of East African wildlife published by the East Africa Tourist Travel Association,...
Flying Tiger playing cards
An “eco-conscious” product with fun, modern designs from Denmark.
Sapra Studio Original
Sapra Studio Original playing cards featuring wild animals of S Africa, 1999.
Greenpeace Playing Cards
Campaign deck for Greenpeace with drawings of penguins, seals, whales and dolphins.
Waves From Around the World
Waves From Around the World playing cards with photography by Aaron Chang.
Under the Sea
“Under the Sea” transformation playing cards, published in 2005 to raise money for the Marine Stewar...
Marine Lives of Maldives
Souvenir deck from The Maldives depicting marine life in the Indian Ocean.
Rivers Edge Products
Rivers Edge Products for the outdoor enthusiast include magnificent artwork on playing cards.
Kenya Tribes Playing Cards
“Kenya Tribus” playing cards published by Sapra, Mount Kenya Sundries Ltd, Nairobi, 1991
Caballos Argentinos
“Caballos Argentinos” playing cards with photographs of horses and ponies on each card.
Wild Life
World Wide Fund for Nature-India Playing Cards, featuring 53 different colour paintings of a variety...
Bonnie Blue’s Rummy Cards
Bonnie Blue’s Rummy Cards.
Galapagos Islands
Galapagos Islands Souvenir Playing Cards, awakening the voice of nature and teaching us about the en...
Most Popular
Our top articles from the past 60 days
