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Peter Burnett

  • United Kingdom • Member since July 27, 2022

I 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.

Russian Playing Cards

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.

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2018 Cathedrals, Abbeys & Minsters playing cards

Cathedrals, Abbeys & Minsters playing cards

54 pictures of different famous cathedrals, abbeys and minsters in England and Wales.

2018 Christmas Carols

Christmas Carols

Christmas Carols playing cards illustrated by Stuart Dilks

2004 Red Hat Society playing cards

Red Hat Society playing cards

Society that encourages women in their quest to get the most out of life.

2022 Clear Skies

Clear Skies

‘Clear Skies’ playing cards paying tribute to the Ukrainian people in the face of war.

2018 Santo Mexico playing cards

Santo Mexico playing cards

Santo Mexico playing cards designed by Cédric Volon with Mexico-associated symbols.

2022 Pride playing cards

Pride playing cards

Pride playing cards designed by Phil Constantinesco

Art pack I

Art pack featuring Old Masters, including Bruegel, Vermeer, Titian, Raphael, Caravaggio, Canaletto, Velazquez and many others.

2016 Gallia Belgica playing cards

Gallia Belgica playing cards

Gallia Belgica playing cards by Cédric Volon presenting a view of Belgian culture and folklore.

2022 Damn! Fools by Moon

Damn! Fools by Moon

Damn! Fools playing cards designed by Leo Scherfig, 2022.

1998 Scruffy Mutts

Scruffy Mutts

‘Scruffy Mutts’ dog-themed playing cards, United Kingdom, c.1998.

2006 Covered bridges playing cards

Covered bridges playing cards

Historical covered bridges with photography by Bill Miller, 2006.

1986 Victorian playing cards

Victorian playing cards

54 different card designs including people, animals, flowers, costumes and ornaments popular during the nineteenth century.

1980 Crown Hill playing cards

Crown Hill playing cards

Crown Hill playing cards with illustrations by Corrine Guiney, USA,

1974 O-Shlemiel card game

O-Shlemiel card game

O-Shlemiel card game with Yiddish words and phrases.

1989 Hamlet Cigars

Hamlet Cigars

Advertising deck for “Hamlet mild cigars”, a Benson & Hedges product.

2013 Go Go Gorillas!

Go Go Gorillas!

Go Go Gorillas! charity playing cards sponsored by the Eastern Daily Press and the Norwich Evening News.

Art pack II, Austria

Renaissance portraits by Albrecht Dürer, Lucas Cranach, Hans Holbein, Barthel Beham, Christoph Amberger and many others.

The Douce Collection

The Douce Collection of playing cards in the Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford.

Sissi playing cards

produced for the Austrian tourist market.

1984 Opernkarte I

Opernkarte I

Humorous designs by Peter Becker on the theme of the Opera.

1983 The Art of Erté

The Art of Erté

Luxury playing cards displaying artwork by Erté, published in 1983 by Sobranie of London.

2010 Go Green playing cards

Go Green playing cards

Suggestions how to “go green” and help combat the impact of climate change.

2006 The Chamber of 52 Cards

The Chamber of 52 Cards

Playing cards published by Peter Wood as a tribute to the rock band Genesis.

North American wildlife playing cards

From humid wetlands to frozen tundra, the wildlife in North America is extremely diverse.

Hummingbirds of the Americas

Colour photographs of hummingbirds with data about each species to aid recognition.

Seashells playing cards

Each card shows colour photo of a different seashell for easy identification.

Discover trains of North America

55 different Illustrations of railways and locomotives from the United States.

2010 Manara: baraja de poker

Manara: baraja de poker

Exotic illustrations by Italian comic book artist and writer Milo Manara.

2008 High School Musical 3: Senior Year

High School Musical 3: Senior Year

American teen film depicting students staging their last spring musical.

G&G Armament playing cards

G&G Armament Airsoft replica gun playing cards from Taiwan.

1984 Carte Romantiche Italiane

Carte Romantiche Italiane

Scenes of life and the theatre in Milan towards the second half of the 19th century.

1995 Guanlangaoshou / Slam Dunk playing cards

Guanlangaoshou / Slam Dunk playing cards

Basketball-themed manga animated playing cards from Japan.

Whatever you’re up to, stay safe

Safety advice playing cards by New Zealand Police and the Wellington City Council.

2005 Absolut Deck

Absolut Deck

Promotional deck published for Absolut Vodka in Sweden.

1977 Lo Stampatore

Lo Stampatore

‘Lo Stampatore’ linocut images created by Sergio Favret, published as a deck of cards by Editions Solleone / Vito Arienti in 1977.

2010 Alice in Wonderland

Alice in Wonderland

Alice in Wonderland collector’s edition with illustrations of characters from the film, published by Fournier, Spain, 2010.

1989 Ulysses a Vau-de-Ville

Ulysses a Vau-de-Ville

the James Joyce cards with drawings by Rosita Fanto.

Nepali children

Photographs of Nepali children offering glimpses of joy, hope and the beauty of life.

2001 Women by Royo

Women by Royo

‘Women by Royo’ erotic playing cards published by Heraclio Fournier, Spain, 2001.

1964 Monuments de Paris

Monuments de Paris

‘Monuments de Paris’ souvenir playing cards produced by Heraclio Fournier, c.1964.

2015 Leonardo collection

Leonardo collection

Leonardo collection playing cards with drawings from his notebooks.

1981 Lo Cartescacco / Chess playing cards

Lo Cartescacco / Chess playing cards

Playing cards designed by F. Romagnoli bringing together Chess and Bridge, Italy, c. 1981.

1998 Frauejass

Frauejass

‘Frauejass / le Jass au féminin’ designed by Susan Csomor, Switzerland, c. 1998.

2020 Commoners playing cards

Commoners playing cards

Created by Ian Cumpstey dedicated to the common land and the countryside.

2019 Liber Ludorum

Liber Ludorum

Liber Ludorum playing cards created by Ian Cumpstey in the insular style, United Kingdom, 2019.

2018 Pike and Clover playing cards

Pike and Clover playing cards

Pike and Clover playing cards created by Ian Cumpstey, Cumbria, UK, 2018.

2023 Inglewood Hunting Deck

Inglewood Hunting Deck

Inglewood Hunting Deck created by Ian Cumpstey, United Kingdom, 2023.

1980 Zodiaque

Zodiaque

“Les Signes du Zodiaque” playing cards designed by Youdi des Aubrys.

1981 British Monarchs

British Monarchs

Commemorating the royal wedding of Charles, Prince of Wales to Lady Diana Spencer on the 29th July 1981.

1980 Jeu de la Belle Epoque

Jeu de la Belle Epoque

Jeu de la Belle Epoque, remembering a golden age of optimism, progress and elegance.

1985 Correspondances

Correspondances

‘Correspondances’ depicting the 52 transfer stations of the Paris Métropolitain, France, 1985.