Matt Probert
Member since March 02, 2012I have adored playing cards since before I was seven years old, and was brought up on packs of Waddington's No 1. As a child I was fascinated by the pictures of the court cards.
Over the next fifty years I was seduced by the artwork in Piatnik's packs and became a collector of playing cards.
Seeking more information about various unidentified packs I discovered the World of Playing Cards website and became an enthusiastic contributor researching and documenting different packs of cards.
I describe my self as a playing card archaeologist, using detective work to identify and date obscure packs of cards discovered in old houses, flea markets and car boot sales.
The latest articles from Matt Probert
Diaoyu Poker 8068
8068 by Diaoyu Poker (China) 2019. • Feb 16, 2021
Crocheter’s Playing Cards
Crocheter’s playing cards sent to subscribers of the Crochet Society box, 2021. • Jan 31, 2021
Gulliver’s Travels
Gulliver’s Travels card game no.293 published by Piatnik, c.1950. • Jan 12, 2021
Greenpeace
Campaign deck for Greenpeace with drawings of penguins, seals, whales and dolphins. • Jun 10, 2020
My Word
My Word “The last word in card games” designed by Michael Kindred and Malcolm Smith, published in 1980 by Waddingtons. • Jun 09, 2020
Qantas
Qantas Airways Limited is the flag carrier of Australia and is the world's third-oldest airline still in operation, having been founded in November 1920. • Jun 08, 2020
A Case Study
Case Study: using detective work to identify and date a pack discovered in charity shop. • Jun 07, 2020
Leather Card Case Patent Application
In 1932, a patent was granted to Colin Hart and George Franklin for a leather case in the form of a book cover for playing cards. • Jun 06, 2020
Bicycle Steampunk
Bicycle Steampunk playing cards with Gothic artwork by Anne Stokes, 2015. • Feb 11, 2020
World of Harry Potter
World of Harry Potter playing cards produced by Winning Moves under Waddingtons Number 1 brand, 2019. • Jan 18, 2020
Final Fantasy VII
Final Fantasy VII is a role-playing video game. • Jan 12, 2020
Casais Portugueses
Matching game by Majora, Lisbon, c.1970, featuring figures in national dress from Portuguese provinces and colonies • Dec 12, 2019
Carousel Playing Cards
Carousel Playing Cards commissioned by Tesco stores, 2019. • Dec 04, 2019
Bicycle Knights
Bicycle Knights playing cards designed by Sam Hayles in 2018. • Nov 20, 2019
Period Pieces
National Trust Period Pieces Antiques Game produced in 1976 by Dinosaur Publications. • Nov 12, 2019
Crown the Queen
Crown the Queen card game invented by Elaine Burton, c.1953. • Oct 08, 2019
Souvenir from Zakynthos
Souvenir from Zakynthos by Euro Card. • Sep 25, 2019
Gods of Egypt
Gods of Egypt playing cards dedicated to the culture of Ancient Egypt. • Sep 25, 2019
Bicycle 808 Bourbon
Bicycle 808 Bourbon themed deck by US Playing Card Company 2017. • Sep 24, 2019
National Geographic Nature
National Geographic Nature playing cards, 2006. • Sep 10, 2019
Tease Me
‘Tease Me’ 1960s glamour pack. • Aug 25, 2019
Souvenir of Norway
Souvenir of Norway deck. • Aug 16, 2019
Klutz Card Deck
Klutz Card Deck with comic courts. • Aug 04, 2019
Woman’s Hour
The Woman’s Hour playing cards published by David Westnedge, 1996. • Jul 11, 2019
Bicycle Civil War Deck
The Civil War Deck designed by Jackson Robinson, 2017. • Jul 08, 2019
Bicycle Emotions
Bicycle Emotions playing cards with custom emotions on the courts to help you bluff at cards, 2013. • Jul 07, 2019
Alphabetti Spaghetti
Alphabetti Spaghetti Happy Families game for Crosse & Blackwell c.1978. • Jul 03, 2019
Age of Dragons
Age of Dragons by Anne Stokes, 2017. • Jul 01, 2019
Anne Stokes Collection
Anne Stokes Collection playing cards, 2010. • Jun 30, 2019
Piwiarnia Pub in Warsaw
Advertising Deck for the Piwiarnia Pub in Warsaw. • Jun 23, 2019
The Deck of Cards
The Deck of Cards by Andrew Jones Art, 1979. • May 26, 2019
Les Géants d’un Mythe
Les Géants d'un Mythe created by François Poulain and manufactured by Grimaud, 1983. • May 11, 2019
I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter!
I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter! promotional playing cards, 1997. • May 10, 2019
Hendrick’s Gin
Nice advertising deck for Hendrick’s Gin, c.2015. • May 03, 2019
Caesars Palace
‘Aristocrat’ Casino Cards with special courts for Caesars Palace by USPCC 2006. • Apr 24, 2019
Tyrolean Playing Cards
Facsimile of patriotic 1878 Tyrolean playing cards published by Piatnik in 1992. • Mar 25, 2019
Harry Potter & the Goblet of Fire
Harry Potter & the Goblet of Fire, 2005. • Mar 24, 2019
New Zealand Souvenir
Souvenir from New Zealand by Croxley (John Dickinson) c.1950. • Mar 19, 2019
Billabong playing cards
Billabong Dual Deck by Hudson Industries, 1950s. • Mar 10, 2019
Chinese Jokers
Chinese playing card makers have probably produced the widest variety of jokers of any single part of the world. • Mar 03, 2019
Ken McCarthy
An unknown deck by Ken McCarthy, c.2018. • Jan 22, 2019
Ocean to Ocean Souvenir of Canada, c.1905
Ocean to Ocean Souvenir of Canada by Chas Goodall & Son Ltd, c.1905. • Dec 10, 2018
Pooltella
Pooltella cards by John Waddington Ltd, the cards that simplify football pool forecasts, 1930s. • Dec 07, 2018
Characters of “The Water Margin”
Characters from the Chinese novel “The Water Margin” - 水滸撲克. • Nov 28, 2018
Les Grandes Figures de L’Histoire Bretonne
Les Grandes Figures de L’Histoire Bretonne • Nov 26, 2018
Hearts of London
Hearts of London for British Heart Foundation 2009. • Oct 31, 2018
Cat Chaos
‘Cat Chaos Celebrity Edition’ card game by Ginger Fox Ltd., 2017. • Oct 15, 2018
Roman Empire
Roman Empire playing cards designed by G. Wyatt for Green Board Game Co Ltd., 2011. • Oct 15, 2018
National Geographic: Weird But True
National Geographic: “Weird But True” kids fun fact playing cards, 2014. • Oct 14, 2018
Red Sea
Red Sea fish identification cards published in several languages by Horus of Egypt, 2005. • Sep 19, 2018
Emoticon
Emoticon playing cards designed by Buy Design Studios, 2016. • Sep 18, 2018