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.
Treasures from the Bodleian Library
Rare books, manuscripts, music scores, portraits, maps, gospels, chronicles and other valuable artefacts from the Bodleian’s rich collections.
Cathedrals, Abbeys & Minsters playing cards
54 pictures of different famous cathedrals, abbeys and minsters in England and Wales.
Christmas Carols
Christmas Carols playing cards illustrated by Stuart Dilks
Red Hat Society playing cards
Society that encourages women in their quest to get the most out of life.
Clear Skies
‘Clear Skies’ playing cards paying tribute to the Ukrainian people in the face of war.
Santo Mexico playing cards
Santo Mexico playing cards designed by Cédric Volon with Mexico-associated symbols.
Pride playing cards
Pride playing cards designed by Phil Constantinesco
Art pack I
Art pack featuring Old Masters, including Bruegel, Vermeer, Titian, Raphael, Caravaggio, Canaletto, Velazquez and many others.
Gallia Belgica playing cards
Gallia Belgica playing cards by Cédric Volon presenting a view of Belgian culture and folklore.
Damn! Fools by Moon
Damn! Fools playing cards designed by Leo Scherfig, 2022.
Scruffy Mutts
‘Scruffy Mutts’ dog-themed playing cards, United Kingdom, c.1998.
Covered bridges playing cards
Historical covered bridges with photography by Bill Miller, 2006.
Victorian playing cards
54 different card designs including people, animals, flowers, costumes and ornaments popular during the nineteenth century.
Crown Hill playing cards
Crown Hill playing cards with illustrations by Corrine Guiney, USA,
O-Shlemiel card game
O-Shlemiel card game with Yiddish words and phrases.
Hamlet Cigars
Advertising deck for “Hamlet mild cigars”, a Benson & Hedges product.
Go Go Gorillas!
Go Go Gorillas! charity playing cards sponsored by the Eastern Daily Press and the Norwich Evening News.
Art pack II, Austria
Renaissance portraits by Albrecht Dürer, Lucas Cranach, Hans Holbein, Barthel Beham, Christoph Amberger and many others.
The Douce Collection
The Douce Collection of playing cards in the Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford.
Sissi playing cards
produced for the Austrian tourist market.
Opernkarte I
Humorous designs by Peter Becker on the theme of the Opera.
The Art of Erté
Luxury playing cards displaying artwork by Erté, published in 1983 by Sobranie of London.
Go Green playing cards
Suggestions how to “go green” and help combat the impact of climate change.
The Chamber of 52 Cards
Playing cards published by Peter Wood as a tribute to the rock band Genesis.
North American wildlife playing cards
From humid wetlands to frozen tundra, the wildlife in North America is extremely diverse.
Hummingbirds of the Americas
Colour photographs of hummingbirds with data about each species to aid recognition.
Seashells playing cards
Each card shows colour photo of a different seashell for easy identification.
Discover trains of North America
55 different Illustrations of railways and locomotives from the United States.
Manara: baraja de poker
Exotic illustrations by Italian comic book artist and writer Milo Manara.
High School Musical 3: Senior Year
American teen film depicting students staging their last spring musical.
G&G Armament playing cards
G&G Armament Airsoft replica gun playing cards from Taiwan.
Carte Romantiche Italiane
Scenes of life and the theatre in Milan towards the second half of the 19th century.
Guanlangaoshou / Slam Dunk playing cards
Basketball-themed manga animated playing cards from Japan.
Whatever you’re up to, stay safe
Safety advice playing cards by New Zealand Police and the Wellington City Council.
Absolut Deck
Promotional deck published for Absolut Vodka in Sweden.
Lo Stampatore
‘Lo Stampatore’ linocut images created by Sergio Favret, published as a deck of cards by Editions Solleone / Vito Arienti in 1977.
Alice in Wonderland
Alice in Wonderland collector’s edition with illustrations of characters from the film, published by Fournier, Spain, 2010.
Ulysses a Vau-de-Ville
the James Joyce cards with drawings by Rosita Fanto.
Nepali children
Photographs of Nepali children offering glimpses of joy, hope and the beauty of life.
Women by Royo
‘Women by Royo’ erotic playing cards published by Heraclio Fournier, Spain, 2001.
Monuments de Paris
‘Monuments de Paris’ souvenir playing cards produced by Heraclio Fournier, c.1964.
Leonardo collection
Leonardo collection playing cards with drawings from his notebooks.
Lo Cartescacco / Chess playing cards
Playing cards designed by F. Romagnoli bringing together Chess and Bridge, Italy, c. 1981.
Frauejass
‘Frauejass / le Jass au féminin’ designed by Susan Csomor, Switzerland, c. 1998.
Commoners playing cards
Created by Ian Cumpstey dedicated to the common land and the countryside.
Liber Ludorum
Liber Ludorum playing cards created by Ian Cumpstey in the insular style, United Kingdom, 2019.
Pike and Clover playing cards
Pike and Clover playing cards created by Ian Cumpstey, Cumbria, UK, 2018.
Inglewood Hunting Deck
Inglewood Hunting Deck created by Ian Cumpstey, United Kingdom, 2023.
Zodiaque
“Les Signes du Zodiaque” playing cards designed by Youdi des Aubrys.
British Monarchs
Commemorating the royal wedding of Charles, Prince of Wales to Lady Diana Spencer on the 29th July 1981.
Jeu de la Belle Epoque
Jeu de la Belle Epoque, remembering a golden age of optimism, progress and elegance.