The World of Playing Cards Logo
Photo of Matt Probert
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.

Displaying 308 articles

Sort by: Publication Date Alphabetical Year of Production

Filter by Year of Production

Souvenir of Turkey

Souvenir of Turkey playing cards by KS Games with scenic photographs on every card.

2002 Souvenir of New Zealand

Souvenir of New Zealand

Souvenir of New Zealand produced by Hema Maps NZ Limited

Snap

Spear’s “Snap” card game from the 1920s.

Air Malta

‘Air Rummy’ playing cards published by Air Malta, late 1990s.

Australia by Steve Parish

Australia souvenir deck with photography by Steve Parish

1999 Millennium

Millennium

‘Millennium’ limited edition playing cards by Carta Mundi, 1999

British American Tobacco patience

Patience deck for British American Tobacco printed by Speelkaartenfabriek Nederland c.1940

1979 1900 Jeu de Cartes

1900 Jeu de Cartes

‘Jeu de Cartes 1900’ designed by Marie Christine Schira in the Art Nouveau or Jugendstil style, 1979.

1994 Caledonian Airways “European Phrases”

Caledonian Airways “European Phrases”

“European Phrase” playing cards produced for Caledonian Airways, 1994.

Singapore Airlines

Singapore Airlines A330 flying experience souvenir playing cards

1968 British Birds

British Birds

Pepys “British Birds” card game with colour pictures, c.1968.

1973 Food Exchange

Food Exchange

“Food Exchange“ playing cards designed by Ralph Dobson for the British Diabetic Association.

1990 Bath and the Cotswolds

Bath and the Cotswolds

“Bath and the Cotswolds” souvenir pack of cards published by John McLean of Edinburgh, c.1990.

1998 SiRen International

SiRen International

“SiRen International” playing cards based on traditional style of Indian miniature painting, 1998

Popular No.257

Piatnik’s “Popular Playing Cards” No.257

2014 Breaking Bad Playing Cards

Breaking Bad Playing Cards

“Breaking Bad” fan deck designed by Albino Dragon and manufactured by the USPCC in 2014.

1970 Canary Islands Souvenir

Canary Islands Souvenir

Canary Islands Souvenir by Heraclio Fournier, c.1970.

1984 Pirates et Corsaires

Pirates et Corsaires

“Pirates et Corsaires” playing cards illustrated by Jean Bruneau, 1984.

Héron French tarot

French edition of the ‘Bourgeois’ Tarot by Héron.

Tarot des Sapeurs-Pompiers de Paris

Tarot des Sapeurs-Pompiers de Paris, a French Fire Brigade tarot deck published by Éditions Dusserre.

1939 Royal Dutch Mail

Royal Dutch Mail

Elegant “Nieuw Neerlandia” pattern designed by M.A. Koekkoek and produced by Speelkaartenfabriek Nederland, c.1930s

Salzburger Pattern

Salzburger pattern by Ferd. Piatnik & Söhne, Vienna

1983 Eastern Airlines and Ryder Trucks by Hoyle

Eastern Airlines and Ryder Trucks by Hoyle

Dual advertising deck for Eastern Airlines and Ryder Trucks, produced by Hoyle, 1983.

2015 Strongbow ‘House of Horror’

Strongbow ‘House of Horror’

‘House of Horror’ Halloween deck published by Strongbow cider, 2015.

1990 Views from Norway

Views from Norway

“54 Views from Norway” souvenir playing cards published by Normanns Kunstforlag A/S, c.1990s.

2015 Giffgaff

Giffgaff

Giffgaff mobile network playing cards, 2015.

2016 Game of Thrones

Game of Thrones

“Game of Thrones” playing cards are an official fan deck associated with the HBO adaptation of the books by George R.R. Martin.

2010 Lucky Buddha Beer

Lucky Buddha Beer

Deck made in China in c.2010 advertising the Chinese brew “Lucky Beer, the enlightened beer”

Terracotta Army

Each card has a different photo of elements of the terracotta army whose purpose was to protect the emperor Qin Shi Huang in his afterlife.

Terracotta Warriors of Emperor Qin

“Terracotta Warriors of Emperor Qin” collectible playing cards, made in China, c.2010.

2015 DC Comic Bombshells

DC Comic Bombshells

Stylish playing cards featuring the glamorous, superpowered female stars of the alternate reality world of DC Comics, published by 'Forbidden Planet', 2015

2005 University of Essex

University of Essex

A deck of cards produced for the University of Essex in around 2005-2006.

2004 Prime Arts

Prime Arts

Prime Arts Playing Cards were published in 2004 featuring the work of contemporary artists, illustrators and photographers.

1946 State Historical Society of Wisconsin

State Historical Society of Wisconsin

Souvenir deck from the State Historical Society of Wisconsin containing photographs from museum collections and archives on each card.

1927 Canadian National Railways

Canadian National Railways

Canadian National Railways souvenir deck, dated to 1927. Every card is gilt edged, and carries a different photograph of Canada.

Schwarzkopf BC Bonacure

Schwarzkopf BC Bonacure playing cards promoting the ultimate hair perfection.

Sony Tape Rock ‘N’ Pop Playing Cards

Deck featuring “18 Rock ‘n’ Pop” Superstars portrayed on the court cards and jokers by eight of Britain’s leading illustrators.

1996 Die Neue ÖVP

Die Neue ÖVP

Promotional deck for the Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP) printed by Piatnik, 1996.

2010 N.A.S.A. Aircraft

N.A.S.A. Aircraft

Lessons of a Widowmaker and Other NASA Aircraft, c.2010.

2007 Jacqueline Wilson Playing Cards

Jacqueline Wilson Playing Cards

“Jacqueline Wilson” playing cards were illustrated by Nick Sharratt and published by Winning Moves UK Ltd in 2007.

2005 Chinese Roles of Beijing Opera

Chinese Roles of Beijing Opera

A very impressive deck of cards featuring 54 different images from “Chinese Roles of Beijing Opera” published by HCG Poker Productions, 2005

1910 Empire Card Company: Star Playing Cards

Empire Card Company: Star Playing Cards

The “Star” special pack of playing cards manufactured by Thomas De la Rue under their Empire Card Co subsidiary, c.1910.

2012 Grolsch Brewery

Grolsch Brewery

A somewhat unusual deck specially designed for Grolsch Breweries evoking self-expression and independence of spirit, c.2012

2006 Secret Magic Cards

Secret Magic Cards

‘Secret Magic Cards’ published by Hanky Panky Toys Thailand Ltd., © World Magic International, 2006.

Willeb Cartes Piquet 502

Éditions Willeb Cartes à Jouer Piquet - Belote - Manille Laquées 502

Ian Schrager Hotels

Advertising/souvenir deck of cards associated with the Ian Schrager chain of luxury hotels.

Madeira Souvenir

“Ilha da Madeira” Souvenir playing cards with 54 colour views of the archipelago.

2004 Olivia’s Lucky Ladies

Olivia’s Lucky Ladies

“Olivia’s Lucky Ladies” glamour model playing cards produced by Ozone Productions Ltd, USA, 2004

Malaysia Airlines

Malaysian-made deck of cards produced for Malaysian Airline Systems (MAS).

1960 Tobacco advertising

Tobacco advertising

Advertising decks made in Belgium by A. Van Genechten, 1960s.

Legendary Land’s End

“Legendary Land’s End” deck by John Hinde showing photographic views of Land’s End, Cornwall (UK)