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.
Guns N’ Roses Las Vegas 2012
Guns N’ Roses Las Vegas 2012 promotion playing cards produced by Gemaco, USA.
Scientific American
‘Scientific American’ playing cards depicting 19th century illustrations of inventions.
Pressers playing cards
Pressers playing cards with illustrations by Aaron Johnson printed by USPCC for Ellusionist in 2014.
Tamarind Institute stacked deck
Tamarind Institute stacked deck, USA, 2003
Texas Sesquicentennial
Texas Sesquicentennial commemoration playing cards produced by Alief Products Company in 1985.
New Orleans and Gulf souvenir
New Orleans and Gulf souvenir playing cards from c1900 reprinted for the 52 Plus Joker Convention in New Orleans, 2010.
Calliope: a Renaissance band
Facsimile of cards attributed to Hans Schäufelein (c. 1480-1540) produced by ‘Calliope’, a New York City-based band.
La-Tee-Da transformation playing cards
Facsimile edition of ‘La-Tee-Da’ transformation playing cards, originally made in 1865 by Dean & Son of London, republished by F.G. & Co. in 2004.
Orange: Great Value, Free Rewards
“Orange: Great Value, Free Rewards” promotional playing cards published by Orange UK.
Packs of Prizes
‘Packs of Prizes’ playing cards advertising Neosorexa pest control products.
Eurocell® playing cards
Promotional playing cards produced by Eurocell® (UPVC window, door, conservatory and roofline systems), United Kingdom.
Buses playing cards
Playing cards for bus lovers produced by Collectable Cards Limited & Ian Allan Publishing Ltd.
Wrocław
Wrocław souvenir playing cards designed by Katarzyna Tomala, 2011.
EU52 Deck of Cards
“EU52 Deck of Cards“ Eurosceptic political playing cards published by 52 Jokers Ltd, United Kingdom, 2015.
Take Control : Drugs
Take Control : Drug advice playing cards produced by Safer Publications, United Kingdom, 2007.
Pips in Pictures
‘Pips in Pictures’ imaginatively transformed playing cards by Jennifer Gaudion, 2001.
Pips in Proverbs
Wonderful ‘Pips in Proverbs’ playing cards created by Jennifer Gaudion, United Kingdom, 2009.
A Bouquet of Pheasants
A Bouquet of Pheasants playing cards produced by Jennifer Gaudion, United Kingdom, 2019.
James Purdey Signature playing cards
James Purdey & Sons is a long-established gun manufacturer founded in 1814 in London.
Hackett Magical Christmas Gift Guide playing cards
Hackett Magical Christmas Gift Guide playing cards, United Kingdom, 2017.
Tea & Coffee Lovers playing cards
Tea & Coffee Lovers playing cards produced by Cultzilla.
Brexit Most Wanted
‘Brexit Most Wanted’ playing cards, United Kingdom, 2019.
World of the New Russians
‘World of the New Russians’ (Mir novykh russkikh) satirical playing cards, 2002.
Covid-19 playing cards
Covid-19 playing cards designed by Stacey Kelly, United Kingdom, 2020.
C-Arts
Collective Arts pack designed by sixty-three collaborating artists, illustrators and designers, Russia, 2003.
Ministry of Emergency Situations
Emergency response playing cards published by the Kombinat Tsvetnoi Pechati (Colour Printing Combine), St Petersburg, 2002.
Castle Rock Club
Castle Rock Club playing cards featuring Russian rock stars and musicians, c. 2000.
Treasures of the Hermitage / Shedevry Ermitazha
‘Treasures of the Hermitage Museum’ souvenir playing cards (‘Shedevry Ermitazha’), Russia.
Island 2000 Trust
“Island 2000 Trust” sustainability project playing cards, Isle of Wight, United Kingdom, c. 2005.
Trading Mart
‘Trading Mart’ playing cards published by RusJoker, St Petersburg, 2005.
The Winning Hand
The Winning Hand playing cards with artwork from multiple artists, United Kingdom, 1993.
Meantime brewery
‘Meantime’ craft brewery playing cards, United Kingdom, c. 2000.
PBR (Professional Bull Riders) playing cards
PBR (Professional Bull Riders) licensed playing cards, USA, 2005
Artball playing cards
Artball playing cards created by Don Celender, USA, 1972.
Aces Playing Cards (2nd edition)
‘Aces Playing Cards’ collaborative art deck published by Zeixs, Cologne (2nd edition).
SI Units Revision playing cards
SI Units revision playing cards, United Kingdom.
USA Golf: places to play
USA golf playing cards showing the best golf courses in the USA.
Hobby horse playing cards
Hobby horse playing cards produced by Michael Evans in a limited edition of 350 packs, 1986.
Vintage skyscraper playing cards
Vintage skyscraper playing cards published by Inkstone Design, Inc., 2005.
Sushi playing cards
Sushi playing cards illustrating different types and styles of sushi, USA, 2004.
Key West and the Florida Keys
Key West and the Florida Keys playing cards with photography by Werner J. Bertsch and Larry Lipsky.
Vanity Fair 1868-1914
Vanity Fair 1868-1914 playing cards published by Billy Bembo, United Kingdom, 1995.
The Deck
The Deck semi-transformation playing cards, USA, 1983.
Adventure Fours
Adventure Fours playing cards with differently coloured suit symbols, USA 1977
Lifesaving Earthquake Safety Tips
54 Lifesaving earthquake safety tips playing cards produced by the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, USA, 2005.
Jack Daniel’s Playing Cards
Jack Daniel’s™ Old Nº7 Gentlemen’s playing cards produced by Hoyle Products, USA, 1994.
Coolidge playing cards
Coolidge playing cards featuring dogs playing poker, Aquarius, USA, 2008.
Knot playing cards
Knot playing cards intended to teach a variety of useful and interesting knots, USA, 2000.
Heisey Glass Museum
National Heisey Glass Museum playing cards featuring artistic glass tableware and figurines, USA, 2006.
Cards Eh!
“Cards Eh!” playing cards with general information about Canada produced by JK Productions of Richmond, British Columbia in 2002.
Get Bear Smart
“Get Bear Smart” playing cards published by the Get Bear Smart Society, Canada, 2005.