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.
History of the Russian Revolution
A pack of playing cards about the Russian Revolution, USA, c. 2021.
Radical playing cards
Radical playing cards, identifying radical characters from history, United Kingdom, 2021
Think smoking heroin is safe?
“Think smoking heroin is safe?” harm minimisation playing cards.
Lose the smoke Keep the fire
“Lose the smoke Keep the fire” playing cards to help quit smoking, published by Nicotinell, 2007.
Cycle all over London
Cycle all over London playing cards published by Transport for London Street Management, 2003.
War on AIDS
War on AIDS playing cards published by ActionAid, United Kingdom, c. 2004.
Harold Samuel Collection playing cards
The Harold Samuel Collection of Dutch and Flemish seventeenth-century artworks, United Kingdom, 2012.
Better drug laws now
“Better drug laws now” campaign playing cards issued by Release, United Kingdom.
White House of Cards
“White House of Cards” produced by Peter Dunlap-Shohl, USA, 2017.
Hillary Presidential playing cards, 2016
Hillary Clinton Presidential playing cards, USA, 2016
Oliver North’s Pack of Lies
“Oliver North’s Pack of Lies” produced to help defeat Oliver North in his bid for Senator of Virginia, USA, 1994.
Trump Presidential playing cards
Trump Presidential playing cards by Parody Productions, USA, 2015.
Deck of Reagan
“The Deck of Reagan” political playing cards produced by NewsMax Media Inc. in 2004.
Politipack ’88 playing cards
Politipack ’88 produced by Robert Billingsley, USA, 1988.
Executive Deck
Executive Deck, otherwise known as “the Nixon Deck”, USA, 1973.
John F. Kerry Presidential deck
John F. Kerry Presidential playing card deck in support of his election campaign of 2004.
Presidential Poker
Presidential Poker playing cards, USA, 2004.
LBJ Texas playing cards
LBJ Texas playing cards, each card contains different historical facts about Texas, USA, 1966.
Russian Playing Card History - From the Beginnings to 1917
An in-depth review of the history of card-playing, gambling, legislation, manufacture and taxation of playing cards in Russia.
Russian Playing Card Monopoly
The Russian Playing Card Monopoly was established in March 1798 with all revenue going to support the St Petersburg Foundling Hospital. After the construction of the Foundling Hospital's own factory in 1817 (known as the Imperial Playing Card Factory), all subsequent Russian playing card prod...
W Deck
“W Deck” playing cards poking fun at President Bush, USA, 2004.
Joker’s wild: Dubya’s trick deck
“Joker’s wild: Dubya’s trick deck” satirical playing cards published by Seven Stories Press in 2004.
Gee Duh-bya
“Gee Duh-bya” parody playing cards, highlighting the President’s peculiar use of language.
52 reasons to re-elect George Bush
“52 reasons to re-elect George Bush” political playing cards published in 2004.
George W. Bush Presidential Deck
George W. Bush Presidential Deck, USA, 2004.
Grover Cleveland Presidential Campaign of 1888
Grover Cleveland Presidential Campaign playing cards of 1888, USA, [reprint 1980].
Bush cards: carefully stacked deck
“Bush cards: carefully stacked deck”, USA, 2003.
Bushy Cards
“The Bushy Cards” playing card deck published by Political Parody LLC, USA, 2005.
Kennedy Kards
‘Kennedy Kards’ playing cards with satirical portrayals of the Kennedy clan, USA, 1963
World’s Most Wanted Criminals
“World’s Most Wanted Criminals” playing cards published by the World Without Criminals Organization, USA.
America’s Most Wanted
“America’s Most Wanted” playing cards based on the anti-crime reality TV show. 2003.
Le Régime Bush
“Le Régime Bush” anti-war playing cards designed by Thierry Meyssan, France, 2003.
Regime Change Begins at Home
“Regime Change Begins at Home” playing cards designed by Noel Douglas, c. 2003.
Stacked Deck
“Stacked Deck” business caricature playing cards, USA, c. 2003.
Operation Hidden Agenda
“Operation Hidden Agenda” playing cards designed by Kathy Eder, USA, 2003.
Operation Iraqi Freedom playing cards
Operation Iraqi Freedom: U.S. Military heroes playing cards, 2003.
The Bush House of Cards
“The Bush House of Cards” with artwork by John G. Doherty, 2004.
Liberated: America's Most Unwanted
“Liberated: America's Most Unwanted” playing cards published in support of the Iraqi War, c.2003.
War Profiteers playing cards
“War Profiteers” playing cards, USA, c. 2004.
United Nations of Weasels
“United Nations of Weasels” anti-war political playing cards, USA, 2003.
Try’em playing cards
Try’em: the U.S. Regime Change, or “52 Most Wanted Criminals” c. 2003.
War Party playing cards
War Party playing cards, in opposition to the Iraq War, USA, 2003.
Republican Chickenhawks of America
“Republican Chickenhawks of America” playing cards by Jerry A. Vasilatos, USA, 2003.
Iraqi Most Wanted Playing Cards
Playing cards used to help troops identify the most-wanted members of Saddam Hussein's government. 2003.
Agatha Christie Playing Cards
Agatha Christie playing cards produced by Planet Three Collection, United Kingdom, c. 2004.
Wall Street Most Wanted
“Wall Street Most Wanted” playing cards, USA, 2003.
Library Lovers
Library Lovers playing cards published by Word Nerd Games, 2016.
Sixty Penguin Years Playing Cards
In celebration of 60 years of publishing Penguin Books Ltd, 1995.
Goldfish
Playing cards advertising the Goldfish credit card brand, c.1996.
The Deck of Cards
‘The Deck of Cards ’ by Ben Yates, United Kingdom, 2011.
Sky News Politipack
Cartoons of British political figures on playing cards published to promote Sky News' coverage of Election Night 2005.