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308 Articles

Matt Probert

Member since March 02, 2012

I 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.

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1970 Versailles

Versailles

Sumptuous ‘Versailles’ playing cards created by Matéjà and printed by B. P. Grimaud, c.1970

1970 New Jacob’s Bible Cards

New Jacob’s Bible Cards

New Jacob’s Bible Cards published by Lion Playing Cards, Tel Aviv

1985 I. Hardy facsimile

I. Hardy facsimile

Facsimile edition of 19th century I. Hardy Exportation deck complete with reproduction tax wrapper, c.1980s.

1969 Jeu de Cartes Napoléon

Jeu de Cartes Napoléon

Deck created by Matéja celebrating the bicentenary of the birth of Napoleon (1769-1969)

1935 Rush Hour

Rush Hour

“Rush Hour” by Universal Publications Ltd, London, c.1935.

2009 Fair Play cross cultural playing cards

Fair Play cross cultural playing cards

“Fair Play” cross cultural playing cards illustrated by Canadian artist Stephen B. MacInnes.

1987 Scottish Picture Playing Cards

Scottish Picture Playing Cards

Scottish Picture Playing Cards featuring photographs by Colin Baxter.

1957 East African Playing Cards

East African Playing Cards

East African Playing Cards by Heraclio Fournier S.A., 1957.

1965 Chérie

Chérie

Chérie No 7022 designed by Hans & Louise Neupert, nice vibrant artwork, swinging 60s

1998 The Summer Palace

The Summer Palace

The Summer Palace, Beijing, China, c.1998.

Biermans Genoese pattern

Biermans Genoese pattern for Clayson agricultural machinery, late 1960s.

The Blue Train (Bloutrein)

“The Blue Train” playing cards from the luxury train service in South Africa.

1946 Mayall Press Art Studies

Mayall Press Art Studies

Photographic playing cards - each face having an "art study" of a female nude, Mayall Press, Stockwell, London, c.1946.

1950 Norway’s Beauty Spots

Norway’s Beauty Spots

Views of Norway’s Beauty Spots Souvenir playing cards published by Nyborg in collaboration with Oslo Travel Association, 1950s.

Vienna (ex-Lyon) pattern

‘Vienna pattern’ derived from archaic Lyon pattern by Ferd Piatnik & Söhne A.G., c.1926-1934.

1914 Prince of Wales National Relief Fund 1914

Prince of Wales National Relief Fund 1914

A two-pack patience set produced by Thomas De la Rue on behalf of the Prince of Wales National Relief Fund in 1914.

Saint-Martin Island Souvenir

St-Martin Island Souvenir published by Editions Exbrayat.

Fairy Brand Round Playing Cards No.200A

Fairy Brand Round Playing Cards No.200A

Maxi Puke 201 Circus Poker

Maxi Puke 201 Circus Poker brand produced by Wenyu Paper Products, Shanghai.

1995 Pack of Royals

Pack of Royals

Willie Rushton’s “Pack of Royals” featuring caricatures of the Royal Family, 1995.

1960 Jacob’s Bible Cards

Jacob’s Bible Cards

Jacob’s Bible Cards published by Lion Playing Cards Factory Ltd, Tel Aviv, since mid-1950s.

1961 Comtesse

Comtesse

“Comtesse” by Bielefelder Spielkarten Fabrik GmbH, 1961.

2016 Lara Croft: Tomb Raider

Lara Croft: Tomb Raider

Lara Croft Tomb Raider 20 Years Commemorative Deck, 2016.

1983 Armchair Cricket

Armchair Cricket

Armchair Cricket by ex-professional County Cricket player Don Arnold was first marketed by Norfolk House Enterprises in 1983.

1998 Cyprus Souvenir

Cyprus Souvenir

Cyprus Souvenir playing cards published by Editions Michalis Toubis S.A., 1998.

Walkers Shortbread

Advertising Deck for Walkers Shortbread, c.1998.

Pleisure Pub Group Bible #3

It doesn’t matter if the glass is half empty or half full... it always needs topping up with these delicious cocktail recipe cards...

2016 Four Days of Walking Event

Four Days of Walking Event

Dutch playing cards promoting the annual International Four Days of Walking Event held in Holland, 2016

2004 St Petersburg Souvenir

St Petersburg Souvenir

St Petersburg Souvenir playing cards, 2004

2017 Missouri State Souvenir

Missouri State Souvenir

Missouri Souvenir playing cards designed by OnPoint Speciality products in the USA, 2017.

2004 Russia Souvenir Playing Cards

Russia Souvenir Playing Cards

Russia Souvenir Playing Cards published by The Bronze Horseman, c.2004.

Cities of Art - Naples

Striking views of Naples, photography by Cesare Gerolimetto, produced by Dal Negro.

What the Butler Saw

“What the Butler Saw” playing cards depicting tasteful photography of the female body.

1993 90 Minutes Playing Cards

90 Minutes Playing Cards

90 Minutes Playing Cards by IPC Magazines 1993.

M/S Kronprins Harald

Souvenir of Jahre Line Ferry M/S Kronprins Harald

1955 Piccadilly Patience

Piccadilly Patience

Piccadilly Patience by Piatnik, c.1955

2014 Dragon Fight

Dragon Fight

Dragon Fight card game by Playmobil ®, 2014.

Old Huckleberry Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey

Old Huckleberry Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey with a retro vintage feel

2003 British Airways Concorde

British Airways Concorde

British Airways Concorde playing cards made in Belgium by Carta Mundi, before 2003.

1975 Bridge Challenger

Bridge Challenger

“Bridge Challenger” by Fidelity Electronics, 1975

Bulgaria Souvenir

Bulgaria Souvenir by Land of Roses Ltd.

2012 Bicycle Heritage

Bicycle Heritage

Bicycle Heritage playing cards by the United States Playing Card Company, 2012

1914 Rococo Playing Cards

Rococo Playing Cards

Piatnik’s Rococo style playing cards issued as “Rococo Patience”, “Luxus-Patience”, “Empire Patience”, “White Horse Patience”, “Patience-Whist No.140” and “Mini Patience”

2005 Fish Playing Cards

Fish Playing Cards

Fish Playing Cards for Maldives by Parksons Games.

2010 Pharaonic Souvenir of Egypt

Pharaonic Souvenir of Egypt

Pharaonic Souvenir of Egypt, c.2010

1986 Sony IBC’86

Sony IBC’86

Sony IBC’86 complimentary pack showcasing latest electronic and digital equipment as it stood in 1986.

1935 Nestlé Happy Families

Nestlé Happy Families

‘Happy Families’ published by Nestlé in 1935.

F. X. Schmid Mini-Patience

Miniature Patience playing cards in Rococo style published by F. X. Schmid, c.1960

1973 100 Pipers

100 Pipers

100 Pipers Scotch Whisky promotional deck, Waddingtons P.C.Co., c.1973. Includes a Tarot pack offer.

2013 Punch Studio: ‘Geisha Girls’

Punch Studio: ‘Geisha Girls’

‘Geisha Girls’ playing cards published by Punch Studio, Culver City, CA., 2013

1950 Test Pilot

Test Pilot

‘Test Pilot’, illustrated by A. B. Bowbeer and published by Pepys Games, 1950s.