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.
Love is a smoke
‘Love is a smoke’ (Classic edition) fantasy playing cards produced by Passione, Italy, 2015.
Zamki Polski
Zamki Polski souvenir playing cards with 54 drawings of Polish castles.
Charta Bellica
“Charta Bellica” playing cards produced by Piatnik, Budapest in 2009.
IBUSZ folklore playing cards
Hungarian folklore pack produced by IBUSZ travel agency, c. 1965.
Interhotel playing cards
Interhotel playing cards printed by Obchodni Tiskárny (OTK), Prague, and published by the Interhotel chain in 1972.
Rybářské karty
Fishing-themed playing cards with artwork by Jan Hora, Czech Republic, 2005.
Napoleonské karty
“Napoleonské karty” from the Czech Republic portraying monarchs and emperors.
Carte Méthodique
Reproduction of a French pack by François Silvestre intended to teach heraldry, produced in Paris in 1712.
Spielkarten in Bromsilber-Photographie
“Spielkarten in Bromsilber-Photographie” facsimile edition by Vito Arienti of Edizioni del Solleone, Italy, 1983.
Sailor Jerry Playing Cards
“Sailor Jerry” tattoo flash playing cards, USA.
Bible playing cards featuring the life of Jesus
Bible playing cards featuring the life of Jesus, USA, 2008.
Stonerware playing cards
Stonerware playing cards featuring cannabis smoking paraphernalia, USA.
Romney Presidential playing cards, 2012
Romney Presidential playing cards, USA, 2012
Politically WILD Barack Obama
Politically WILD Barack Obama playing cards, USA, 2008.
Obama Presidential playing cards, 2012
Obama Presidential re-election playing cards published by Parody Productions LLC of Cincinnati, Ohio, 2012.
Political playing cards (2017)
Political playing cards by the British cartoonist Oliver Preston, United Kingdom, 2017.
Political playing cards (2015)
Political playing cards produced by Oliver Preston at the time of the 2015 UK Parliamentary election.
Giochi di Corte
“Giochi di Corte” designed by Vito Thümmel and published by Cambissa of Trieste in 1991.
Panorama playing cards
Panorama playing cards included with a weekly news magazine published in Milan, Italy, c. 1979.
The Circus
“The Circus” playing cards with artwork by Max Dissar and Rita Rielle, published by Masenghini, Bergamo, c.1980.
Rudy Presidential playing cards
Rudy Giuliani 2008 Presidential playing cards designed by Corey Ward.
And Marriage For All
“And Marriage For All” playing cards promoting equal marriage rights for same-sex couples.
California Total Recall Playing Cards
California Total Recall Playing Cards / Hasta La Vista, Davis!, USA, 2003.
Texas Democrats Missing in Action
“Texas Democrats Missing in Action” playing cards published by Bernsen Consulting, Austin, Texas, 2003.
Rasta playing cards
Rasta playing cards celebrating the Rastafari religion.
Baraja Cristóbal Colón
“Baraja Cristóbal Colón” commemorating the 500th anniversary of the death of Christopher Columbus.
Baraja El Quijote
Baraja El Quijote, facsimile of original deck designed by E. Pastor, reprinted by Naipes Heraclio Fournier, Spain, 1981.
Liban Historique et Touristique
“Liban historique et touristique” souvenir of Lebanon playing cards manufactured by Heraclio Fournier.
Histoire de France
“Histoire de France” facsimile of French historical deck of 1820.
Maldives pictorial playing cards
Maldives pictorial souvenir playing cards produced by Fantasy, of Malé, Maldives, 1993.
McCain Presidential 2008 playing cards
John McCain and Sarah Palin Presidential playing cards, USA, 2008.
Hillary Presidential playing cards, 2008
Hillary Clinton Presidential playing cards for the US presidency in 2008.
Obama Presidential playing cards, 2008
Obama Presidential playing cards, USA, 2007.
La Cour Galante
‘La Cour Galante’ playing cards with erotic images by Costante Costantini, Italy, 1979.
Calcio Storico Fiorentino
‘Calcio Storico Fiorentino’ by Costante Costantini is based on an early form of football that originated during the Middle Ages in Italy.
Centenario Nascita Benito Mussolini
Playing cards to commemorate the centenary of Benito Mussolini's birth, Italy, c.1983.
Cinquantenario Fondazione dell'Impero
50 anniversario / cinquantenario fondazione dell'Impero, Italy 1936-1986.
Pack of Cocktails
Pack of Cocktails playing cards published by Figure Dynamics in 1985.
Shape Up
“Shape Up” playing cards designed by Anthony Harris published by Figure Dynamics in 1985.
Bank of England playing cards
Bank of England playing cards, reflecting prominent characters and events from the Bank’s history.
Cadbury Heritage Collection
Cadbury Heritage Collection playing cards, United Kingdom, 1998.
Lecardo
‘Lecardo’ playing cards, dominos & word building game invented by Stanley Kermode, United Kingdom, c. 1939.
Cryptic Cards
Cryptic cards created by Immy Smith, United Kingdom, 2017
Welsh Cavalry
Welsh Cavalry commemorative playing cards with illustrations by Dan Peterson, 2012.
Animal Aid playing cards
Animal Aid playing cards with anti-shooting cartoons created by Steve Hutton.
Odd Bods playing cards
Odd Bods playing cards illustrated by Jonathan Burton, United Kingdom, 2012.
The Mrs. Forster Collection
Playing cards featuring original botanical paintings by Mrs. Sidney Eliza Forster from the 1890s.
Pack of Diets
“Pack of Diets” healthy lifestyle playing cards by Waddingtons Games for Figure Dynamics Ltd. in 1984.
Bell’s Patience playing cards
Bell’s Patience playing cards, United Kingdom, 2006
Glenfiddich the independent spirit
Glenfiddich whisky advertising playing cards from Scotland, United Kingdom.
Whyte & Mackay Lucky Lions
Whyte & Mackay Lucky Lions playing cards, United Kingdom, 2017