Moscow Poker
“Moscow” - from the Soviet series produced by Sprint, Ivanovo, 2013.
This attractive pack of 52 poker-size cards presents 52 different pictures of the Soviet era. The pictures are wide-ranging and include: planes, metro stations, buildings, monuments, motor cars, works of art, posters, space craft, Lenin’s Mausoleum, etc. The aces show soviet medals and orders of honour, while the court cards display pictures of Soviet heroes. All cards have large corner indices.
This pack is one of a series of “Designer playing cards” by Sprint, Ivanovo, 2013. Packs include: Symbols of prestige and success; Weapons of Russia; Moscow - Soviet series; Moscow; Romanov Dynasty. All were published in 2013.
By Peter Burnett
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.
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.
Related Articles
Woodblock and Stencil Queen of Clubs
A limited edition art print of the Queen of Clubs 1984 woodblock joker.
Woodblock and Stencil Jack of Clubs
A limited edition art print of the Jack of Clubs 1984 woodblock joker.
Woodblock and Stencil Jack of Hearts
A limited edition art print of the Jack of Hearts 1984 woodblock joker.
Woodblock and Stencil Joker
A limited edition art print of the 1984 woodblock joker.
British Monarchs
Commemorating the royal wedding of Charles, Prince of Wales to Lady Diana Spencer on the 29th
Jeu du Bicentenaire de la Révolution Française
Pack created by Yannick Pennanguer commemorating the bicentenary of the French Revolution and the ce...
Past Masters’ Association Presentation Pack
The Worshipful Company of Makers of Playing Cards Past Masters’ Association Presentation Pack, 2013....
Postak – Las Postas
‘Postak - Las Postas’ playing cards commemorating the history of the Basque postal service, Spain, 1...
Wedding of Krechinsky • Свадьба Кречинского
A pack of cards depicting characters from the famous play "The Wedding of Krechinsky" by Sukhovo-Kob...
Colour doodle deck
“1952-2002 commemorative deck” customised with doodles by an uncredited artist, UK, 2011.
Holy Trinity Church playing cards
Holy Trinity Church commemoration playing cards, USA, 2011.
Wren 300 playing cards
Papercuts by Chloe Campbell of the 52 Wren churches in the City of London.
Don Quixote playing cards
Don Quixote playing cards designed by Nam Tibon, USA, 2016.
Russian folk art playing cards
Russian folk art playing cards produced by Natalia Silva, USA, 2017.
Branle playing cards
‘Branle’ playing cards inspired by a 12th-century dance, produced by Noir Arts, USA, 2015.
Das Nassauische Kartenspiel
Pack conceived by Berthold Conradi, commemorating the 700th anniversary of the granting of town righ...
Commemorative Olympic Playing Cards
Commemorative Olympic Playing Cards produced by Waddingtons exclusively for Stanley Gibbons Antiquar...
Mario Testino playing cards
A selection of Mario Testino’s photographic work in various fields, notably fashion.
Les Montgolfières 1783-1983
Honouring the bicentenary of the Montgolfier brothers’ first balloon flights in 1783.
Centennial Olympic Games playing cards
Centennial Olympic Games playing cards celebrating the centenary of the modern Olympic Games, 1896-1...
Star Wars: a New Hope
‘Star Wars: a New Hope’ playing cards to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the film Star Wars, USA, ...
Buffalo soldiers
“Buffalo soldiers” playing cards commemorating African American military men who helped change the f...
Century of Progress
‘Century of Progress’ Exposition playing cards produced by Western Playing Card Company, USA, 1933. ...
Révolution 1789-1989
Révolution 1789-1989, celebrating the bicentenary of the French revolution, France, 1989
Krónikás kártya
A German-suited pack from Hungary in honour of the millennium.
Celebrate Mickey
‘Celebrate Mickey’ commemorative playing cards: 75 years of fun, USA, 2003.
Spielkarten für Sammler
Cards on cards in celebration of playing-card collector Franz Braun’s 75th birthday.
Poker Quest
Poker Quest: edition spéciale, 400e anniversaire de la ville de Quebec, Canada, c. 2008. ...
Alessandro Manzoni Centenary
Issued to mark the centenary of the death of Alessandro Manzoni, one of Italy’s greatest writers.
Theatre of Pain / Teatr Boli
Theatre of Pain / Teatr boli playing cards depicting politicians and leaders in the Caucasus territo...
Naipes Expo ’92
Naipes Expo ’92 souvenir playing cards manufactured by Naipes Comas, 1992.
American Civil War playing cards
American Civil War centennial playing cards designed by Teodoro N. Miciano and published by Fournier...
Naipes Heraclio Fournier 130th Anniversary
Baraja conmemorativa del 130 aniversario de naipes Heraclio Fournier (1868-1998) Spain, 1998.
CCCP playing cards
Soviet and other Communist celebrities depicted on every card, designed by Vladislav Pankevitch.
The New Game of Tarot (or Tarock)
Regional costumes and alpine flora on a French Tarot game pack marking 600 years of playing cards in...
British Political Images
Playing cards depicting British political images from the Bodleian Libraries.
Jeu de la Révolution
Artist Silvia Maddonni’s take on various characters from the French Revolution, in honour of the bic...
W.C. Fields Commemorative playing cards
W.C. Fields Commemorative playing cards, USA, 1972
1906 Earthquake
Facts, figures, stories and scandals about the 1906 Earthquake published by the Golden Gate National...
Joker Tell
Comic celebration of 700 years of the Swiss Confederation, 1291-1991, with designs by Roland Gazzott...
La Compagnie de 1602
Characters from the annual festival held to commemorate the failed attempt to storm Geneva in 1602. ...
SCANIA 1891-1991
Centenary playing cards illustrating vintage trucks and buses produced by the Swedish company Scania...
Russian criminal tattoos and playing cards
Russian criminal tattoos and playing cards, United Kingdom, 2018.
Texas Sesquicentennial
Texas Sesquicentennial commemoration playing cards produced by Alief Products Company in 1985.