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415 Articles

Peter Burnett

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.

Russian Playing Cards

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.

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1995 Les métiers et leurs protecteurs

Les métiers et leurs protecteurs

“Les métiers et leurs protecteurs” playing cards published by Editions Dusserre, c. 1995.

2015 Branle playing cards

Branle playing cards

‘Branle’ playing cards inspired by a 12th-century dance, produced by Noir Arts, USA, 2015.

2008 Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots

Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots

“Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots” video game characters on playing cards, Japan, 2008

2019 Umbrella Academy playing cards

Umbrella Academy playing cards

Umbrella Academy playing cards created by Gerard Way and Gabriel Bá, USA, 2019.

2015 Mardi Gras playing cards

Mardi Gras playing cards

Mardi Gras playing cards illustrated by Dave Edgerly, USA, 2015

2016 Romeo and Juliet playing cards

Romeo and Juliet playing cards

Romeo and Juliet playing cards illustrated by Belgian artist Virginie Carquin 2016.

1978 Banjo playing cards

Banjo playing cards

Banjo playing cards featuring the collection of Akira Tsumura, Japan, c. 1978.

2013 Jane Austen playing cards

Jane Austen playing cards

Jane Austen playing cards published by Prospero Art, USA, 2013.

2019 Murphy Varnish pack

Murphy Varnish pack

Reproduction of the 1883 Murphy Varnish transformation pack, USA, 2019

2019 Pendleton playing cards

Pendleton playing cards

Pendleton playing cards inspired by indigenous American artwork, USA, 2019.

2015 Aztec Codex playing cards

Aztec Codex playing cards

Aztec Codex playing cards illustrated by Emmanuel Valtierra, USA, ©2015.

2017 Map of the world in full bloom

Map of the world in full bloom

Map of the world in full bloom, USA, 2017

2017 Know your deplorables

Know your deplorables

Photographs of political and media figures associated with the Presidency of Donald Trump (2017-2021).

2004 On-line offsite data backup

On-line offsite data backup

On-line offsite data backup publicity playing cards produced by The Bunker, United Kingdom, c. 2004.

2015 Dorset Dialect Trails

Dorset Dialect Trails

‘Dorset Dialect Trails’ playing cards, United Kingdom, 2015.

2020 Eclipse Comic playing cards (reproduction)

Eclipse Comic playing cards (reproduction)

Eclipse Comic playing cards is a reproduction of the first transformation pack printed in the USA in 1876 by F.H. Lowerre.

2018 Old West Guns

Old West Guns

Old West Guns playing cards containing information about firearms from the Old West, USA.

1986 Clamcleats playing cards

Clamcleats playing cards

Clamcleats playing cards for sailors designed by Celia Allison, New Zealand, 1986.

2008 Around the world in 54 cards

Around the world in 54 cards

“Around the world in 54 cards” hand-coloured transformation pack produced by Peter Wood, United Kingdom, 2008.

2008 The Journey

The Journey

‘The Journey’ limited edition playing cards produced by Peter Wood, UK, 2008.

1994 Postillion Schafkopf

Postillion Schafkopf

Postillion Schafkopf dedicated to the history of the German postal service.

Pretty Frills

‘Pretty Frills’ playing cards promoting curtain and blind accessories.

1993 Centennial Olympic Games playing cards

Centennial Olympic Games playing cards

Centennial Olympic Games playing cards celebrating the centenary of the modern Olympic Games, 1896-1996.

2015 Malam playing cards

Malam playing cards

Malam playing cards created by Michael Muldoon, USA, 2015.

2015 Kings of India playing cards

Kings of India playing cards

Kings of India playing cards depicting the four greatest dynasties of India.

2017 Netter playing cards

Netter playing cards

Anatomical playing cards published by Elsevier, USA, 2017.

2009 History of London illustrated playing cards

History of London illustrated playing cards

A catalogue in 54 cards of some of the treasures held within the Museum of London collections.

2006 Ladbroke Sporting Casino

Ladbroke Sporting Casino

Ladbroke Sporting Casino caricature cartoon playing cards, U.K, c.2006.

2007 Star Wars: a New Hope

Star Wars: a New Hope

‘Star Wars: a New Hope’ playing cards to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the film Star Wars, USA, 2007.

1953 American President Lines

American President Lines

American President Lines shipping souvenir playing cards, early to mid-1950s.

1978 Royal Hawaiian playing cards

Royal Hawaiian playing cards

Royal Hawaiian playing cards published by the Royal Hawaiian Playing Card Company, Honolulu.

1964 Official World’s Fair Souvenir, USA, 1964-6

Official World’s Fair Souvenir, USA, 1964-6

Official souvenir pack showing 52 coloured exhibits from the New York World’s Fair, 1964-6.

2000 Buffalo soldiers

Buffalo soldiers

“Buffalo soldiers” playing cards commemorating African American military men who helped change the face of America.

1933 Century of Progress

Century of Progress

‘Century of Progress’ Exposition playing cards produced by Western Playing Card Company, USA, 1933.

2012 Bicycle Negro League Baseball Museum

Bicycle Negro League Baseball Museum

Bicycle Negro League Baseball Museum souvenir playing cards, USA, 2012.

1915 New York City souvenir

New York City souvenir

New York City souvenir playing cards with 53 different views of interest, USA, 1915.

1925 Nation’s capital souvenir playing cards

Nation’s capital souvenir playing cards

Nation’s capital souvenir playing cards published by the United States Playing Card Company, USA, 1925

1898 California souvenir playing cards

California souvenir playing cards

California souvenir playing cards, USA, 1898 and 1907.

1904 Nile Fortune cards

Nile Fortune cards

Nile Fortune cards no.68x published by the United States Playing Card Company, USA, 1904.

2010 Bicycle Tattoo

Bicycle Tattoo

Bicycle Tattoo, USA, 2010

1971 Seiko fashion cards

Seiko fashion cards

Men's and ladies fashion playing cards published for the Seiko Corporation by Nintendo, Japan, 1971.

1982 Flora playing cards

Flora playing cards

Flora playing cards made by the Angel Playing Card Co., Kyoto, 1982.

1960 Nippon Beer

Nippon Beer

Nippon Beer brewery playing cards published by Nintendo, Japan, 1960s.

1967 Glico Almond Chocolate

Glico Almond Chocolate

Glico Almond Chocolate playing cards with designs by Izumi Tamai, produced by Nintendo, Japan.

1982 Panty cards

Panty cards

Panty cards designed by Hide Takagaki, Japan, 1982.

1978 Suzuki playing cards

Suzuki playing cards

Suzuki playing cards produced by Nintendo, Japan, 1978.

Kushimoto Marine Park

Kushimoto Marine Park souvenir playing cards published by Nintendo, Japan.

2012 Motoveteráni

Motoveteráni

‘Motoveteráni’ playing cards featuring the photographs of Robert Sobčák, Czech Republic,

1993 National Railway Museum

National Railway Museum

National Railway Museum with drawings by Stuart Black, United Kingdom, 1993.

1960 Alaska scenic playing cards

Alaska scenic playing cards

Alaska scenic playing cards featuring scenes of Alaskan life, USA, c. 1960.

1989 Révolution 1789-1989

Révolution 1789-1989

Révolution 1789-1989, celebrating the bicentenary of the French revolution, France, 1989