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.
Coffinnails: Smoking Kills
“Coffinnails: Smoking Kills” playing cards highlighting the impact smoking has on life and health, 2004.
52 ways to stop smoking
“52 ways to stop smoking”, offering positive help for anyone who wants to give up smoking.
The Green Pack: Salisbury Plain
The Green Pack: Salisbury Plain, United Kingdom, 2004.
House of Commons Playing Cards
House of Commons playing cards designed to serve as a civic guide to the UK Parliament.
Alice in Wonderland by Prospero Art
Alice in Wonderland deck published by Prospero Art, USA, 2008.
Alice in Wonderland (Walt Disney Pictures version)
Alice in Wonderland playing cards produced in association with the film Alice in Wonderland by Walt Disney Pictures in 2010.
Alice in Wonderland (Macmillan version)
Playing cards devoted to Lewis Carroll’s Alice books, published by Macmillan in 2016.
Alice in Wonderland by Dominic Murphy
Alice in Wonderland playing cards produced by Dominic Murphy.
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland illustrated by Helen Oxenbury, 1999.
Alice in Wonderland by Cultzilla
Alice in Wonderland 'Curious' playing cards by Cultzilla.
Schott's sporting gaming & idling miscellany
Schott's sporting gaming & idling miscellany, United Kingdom, 2004.
Dickens Character Collection
Dickens Character Collection published for a London Casino as a promotional gift.
Liberal Democrats Playing Cards
Liberal Democrat MPs shown on playing cards at the time of the annual Party Conference in September 2003.
Jonathan Swift and his World
“Jonathan Swift and his World” playing cards designed by Dan Sperrin and produced by David Westnedge Ltd. 2017.
Even More Trial and Error
“Even More Trial and Error” produced by the Worshipful Company of Makers of Playing Cards, United Kingdom, 2016.
Trial and Error
Trial and Error produced by Lance Whitehouse, Past Master of the Worshipful Company of Makers of Playing Cards, 2015
Anti-Fascist cards, 1943
Satirical Anti-Fascist cards designed in 1943 by Ivan Ivanovich Kharkevich.
Russian Playing Cards
Playing cards were known in Muscovy as early as the last quarter of the sixteenth century.
Souvenir of Panama
A photographic souvenir of Panama consisting of 52 cards and 2 jokers.
Belarus Souvenir Cards
Souvenir cards, Belarus, 1993
GAI GIBDD
The State Automobile Inspection of Russian Federal Road Safety Service.
Petrovskie
Petrovskie, politicheskie karty Rossii (Russian political cards), 1997.
Moscow Poker
“Moscow” - from the Soviet series produced by Sprint, Ivanovo, 2013.
Detskie
‘Detskie’ children’s cards produced in Russia, 2001.
Soldaty Udachi
“Soldaty Udachi” (Soldiers of Fortune) Army and Police humour playing cards, Russia, 2001.
Karty Derzhavnye
Karty Derzhavnye (Sovereign cards) with artwork by S. Zaitsev, Russia, 1997.
Karty Lyubvi
Karty lyubvi Slavyanskie (Slavonic love cards) and Karty lyubvi Starinnye (Ancient love cards).
Souvenir playing cards
“Souvenir Playing Cards” featuring drawings and sketches of late 18th century Riga by Johann Christoph Brotze.
Everest playing cards
Everest playing cards, Nepal
Russian Dumpling Club
Russkii Pel'mennyi Klub (Russian Dumpling Club) playing cards designed by Evgenia Alexandrovna Belyakova.
Fabergé playing cards
Kollektsiya Faberzhe karty igral’nye (Fabergé playing cards), Russia, 2005.
Sea Myths Playing Cards
Morskie mify (Sea myths) designed by Lev Liberman, Russia, 2005.
Centaurus
Centaurus: karty igral’nye suvenirnye, Russia, 2005.
Kashmir Playing Cards
Kashmir playing cards designed by Lev Liberman and printed by Printissa, Saint Petersburg, 2005.
Maori playing cards
Maori playing cards from New Zealand.
Saint Petersburg vintage playing cards
Saint Petersburg vintage photography playing cards.
Madam Luck
“Madam Luck” playing cards designed by B. Adziev, 1998.
Novosibirsk Fair
Novosibirsk Fair playing cards designed by Sergei A. Grebennikov, Russia, 1997.
Kolotushki
Kolotushki playing cards designed by Vitalii Buslovskikh, Russia, 2000.
Lubok playing cards
Lubok playing cards designed by Victor M. Sveshnikov. Russia, 1984.
Soviet propaganda posters
Propaganda posters of the Soviet Union.
Russian Federation
Russian Federation pack featuring leading political figures of the time, c.2000.
Komandirskie [Commanders]
‘Komandirskie’ military-themed playing cards from Russia, 1997.
Pack of Prejudice
A political pack produced by the Countryside Alliance about a ban on hunting.
Birds of Nepal
Birds of Nepal with photos by P. Pradhan, 2010.
SilkAir
SilkAir was a Singaporean regional airline and a wholly owned subsidiary of Singapore Airlines.
Periodic Table playing cards
Periodic Table playing cards produced by Synheme Inc., Canada, c. 2006-2007.
Singapore Trump
“Singapore Trump” playing cards designed by Yasuko Senshu.
52 Faces of Nepal playing cards
52 Faces of Nepal playing cards produced by Himalayan MapHouse, Kathmandu.
All 14 Highest Mountains, Nepal
All the 14 Highest Mountain Peaks, Nepal.
Maine Souvenir playing cards
Maine the Pine Tree State souvenir playing cards, 1900.