Peter Burnett
Member since July 27, 2022I 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.
Bicycle Tattoo Golden Edition
Bicycle Tattoo Golden Edition created by Phoenix Playing Cards of Toronto, Canada, 2014.
Bicycle Elves & Orcs
Bicycle ‘Elves & Orcs’ playing cards illustrated by Nathanael Iwata, USA, 2013.
Bicycle Robocycle
Bicycle Robocycle playing cards with quirky robotic illustrations by Duct Tape & Glitter for Theory 11.
No. 17 (Bicycle®) playing cards
No. 17 playing cards designed by Lorenzo Gaggiotti, Sweden, 2015.
Bicycle Flight playing cards
Bicycle Flight ‘Airplane’ and ‘Airship’ playing cards, homage to aviation, 2014.
Bicycle Ancient Machine playing cards
Bicycle Ancient Machine playing cards designed by concept artist Juniardi Satyanagara, USA, 2015.
Bicycle Panthera playing cards
Bicycle Panthera playing cards designed by Juniardi Satyanagara, USA, 2015.
The Undeck
‘The Undeck’ with artwork by Ash Loydon, produced by Cultzilla, United Kingdom, c. 2018.
Victorian Cookery
‘Victorian cookery’ playing cards produced by Cultzilla, United Kingdom, c. 2018.
Twin Peaks coffee
‘Twin Peaks coffee’ playing cards produced by Cultzilla, United Kingdom, 2018.
Sextet: 6 handed bridge
6 handed bridge playing cards designed by Ralph E. Peterson, 1966.
The Presidents playing cards
The Presidents playing cards first published by Arcturus LLC in 2007, reprinted in 2009.
The President’s deck
The President’s deck, USA, 1972
U.S. Presidents playing cards
U.S. Presidents Bicycle playing cards designed by Johnny Whaam, USA, 2015
Presidential playing cards
Presidential playing cards with portraits from Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery, USA.
Presidents of the United States
‘Presidents of the United States’ playing cards published by PostCardusa of Florida after 2009.
Poker Quest
Poker Quest: edition spéciale, 400e anniversaire de la ville de Quebec, Canada, c. 2008.
New Environment deck
New environment deck / Nouveau jeu de cartes sur l’environnement, Canada.
La Baie James
Playing cards documenting the James Bay hydro-electricity project on the La Grande River in north-western Quebec, Canada.
Pack of Thieves?
“Pack of Thieves? 52 Port Arthur Lives” playing cards documenting life in an Australian penal settlement.
Amusements and Attractions
‘Amusements and Attractions’ playing cards showing the fun and excitement of America’s amusement parks.
Eisbergfreistadt Panoramische Spielkarte 1923
‘Iceberg Free State 1923’ fantasy playing cards with a cautionary moral lesson, Germany, 2006.
Unique Australian Animals
‘Unique Australian Animals’ educational playing cards designed by Lawton Ho, Australia, 2004.
Baudelaire playing card collection
Baudelaire playing card collection illustrated by Alméry Lobel-Riche and published by Lo Scarabeo in 2004.
Theatre of Pain / Teatr Boli
Theatre of Pain / Teatr boli playing cards depicting politicians and leaders in the Caucasus territorial disputes.
Jeanne l’Hachette
Jeanne l’Hachette reprint of 19th century transformation deck, Denmark, 1976.
Baraxa Galega
Baraxa Galega designed by F. Perez Llamosas and published by Naipes Heraclio Fournier, 1983.
El Desnudo en el Arte
The Nude in Art / El Desnudo en el Arte, Spain, 1977 (reprint 1990)
Naipes Expo ’92
Naipes Expo ’92 souvenir playing cards manufactured by Naipes Comas, 1992.
Baraja Fiesta Taurina
‘Baraja Fiesta Taurina’ bullfight playing cards published by Heraclio Fournier, Spain, 1975.
Secretos de Oriente
Secrets of the Far East playing cards featuring the designs of Violeta Monreal , Spain, c. 1991.
Museo del Prado
Museo del Prado: Pintores y familias reales / Painters and royal families playing cards.
España Imperial
España imperial / Imperial Spain playing cards with artwork by Serny, published by Heraclio Fournier, Spain, 1983.
Medieval Life playing cards
‘Medium Aevum’ (Medieval Life) playing cards designed by Violeta Monreal, published by Heraclio Fournier c.1988.
American Civil War playing cards
American Civil War centennial playing cards designed by Teodoro N. Miciano and published by Fournier, Spain, 1961.
Naipes Heraclio Fournier 130th Anniversary
Baraja conmemorativa del 130 aniversario de naipes Heraclio Fournier (1868-1998) Spain, 1998.
Gaudí playing cards
Gaudí playing cards with photography by Ramon Manent, Spain, 2002.
Ases de la pintura / Masters of painting
Ases de la pintura / Masters of painting playing cards made by Naipes Comas, Spain, c.1990.
The Teddy deck
The Teddy deck designed by UK artist Peter Wood, 2004.
Gaudí poker
Gaudí poker playing cards illustrated by Josep Opisso, Spain, c. 1992.
Bar Nightjar
Nightjar, a destination for discerning drinkers to meet, linger and relax.
Empics playing cards
Photography from the UK and around the world, past and present.
Greenpeace anti-nuclear playing cards
Greenpeace anti-nuclear pack with facts and figures, United Kingdom, 2003.
Art Genius playing cards
Art Genius playing cards with illustrations by Rebecca Clarke and published by Laurence King Publishing Ltd, London, 2018.
![Testament [classic edition]](http://www.wopc.co.uk/core/cache/wopc/thumbs/countries/usa/uspcc/testament-0.ced30a9b.jpg "Testament [classic edition]")
Testament [classic edition]
Testament playing cards [classic edition] designed by Ben Green, 2020.
Sherlock Holmes illustrated playing cards
Sherlock Holmes playing cards with illustrations by Sidney Paget, United Kingdom
Skyline cards: London edition
Skyline cards: London edition, featuring iconic architecture, United Kingdom, c. 2018.
Shakespeare finely illustrated playing cards
Shakespeare playing cards with illustrations by Sir John Gilbert RA, United Kingdom.
Scarfes Bar playing cards
‘Scarfes Bar’ satirical playing cards with cartoons by Gerald Scarfe, United Kingdom.
Emanuelle
‘Emanuelle’ erotic transformation playing cards designed by Patrick Cuenot, 1986.
British Political Images
Playing cards depicting British political images from the Bodleian Libraries.