The World of Playing Cards Logo
Published June 24, 2014 Updated January 05, 2023

Russian Style

Russian style playing cards first published in 1911.

1911 Russia Imperial Playing Card Factory KZWP-Trefl Piatnik Fashion & Costume Historical Slavic Add to Collection

Russian Style

Traditional Russian style playing cards apparantly designed by artists from Dondorf in Germany and first published in 1911 by the Imperial Playing Card Factory, St Petersburg (1817-2004). The deck is believed to be dedicated to the Imperial costumed ball of 1903 and the cards show characters from the Imperial family. The four aces show war and hunting symbols.

Traditional Russian style playing cards first published in 1911 by The Colour Printing Plant, St Petersburg

Above: Russian style playing cards, early chromolithographic edition, c.1911. The seal of the Imperial Foundling Hospital which received the profits from the sale of playing cards made by the Imperial Playing Card Factory, can be seen on the ace of diamonds, and on the extra card is written: "Nourishes (feeds) selflessly" or "Nourishes without self-pity" which refers to the benevolence of the Playing Card factory in supporting the Imperial Orphanage.

After the USSR ended and the Colour Printing Plant closed down, several local or foreign firms started to print playing cards, including numerous versions of this deck.

Traditional Russian style playing cards first published in 1911 by The Colour Printing Plant, St Petersburg

Above: Russian style playing cards, first published in 1911 and many times since then with various decorative, folkloric or pictorial back designs.

See: Patience version


Above: Piatnik’s faithful reprinting of the Russian Style deck titled “Golden de Luxe Russian”, 1997

Revised version by KZWP-Trefl for King Cards, 2003

Above: redrawn version by KZWP-Trefl for King Cards with several variations in the designs, 2003. Western style German indices.

avatar
12 Articles

Related Articles

Woodblock and Stencil Joker

Woodblock and Stencil Joker

A limited edition art print of the 1984 woodblock joker.

Woodblock and Stencil Queen of Clubs

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

Woodblock and Stencil Jack of Clubs

A limited edition art print of the Jack of Clubs 1984 woodblock joker.

Woodblock and Stencil King of Diamonds

Woodblock and Stencil King of Diamonds

A limited edition art print of the King of Diamonds 1984 woodblock joker.

2009 Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End

Pack featuring six images from the Disney film of the same name, on cards made for Eastern Europe.

1988 Costumes Alsaciens

Costumes Alsaciens

Typical costumes and views of Alsace together with lists of the principal sights.

2009 Winnie the Pooh Rummy

Winnie the Pooh Rummy

Disney’s Winnie the Pooh and friends on a pack made for Eastern Europe.

2020 The Pack of Positivity

The Pack of Positivity

Katie Abey’s rainbow-coloured designs using crazy animals to convey motivating phrases.

2010 Specsavers playing cards

Specsavers playing cards

to help you see better when playing cards

2002 Mario Testino playing cards

Mario Testino playing cards

A selection of Mario Testino’s photographic work in various fields, notably fashion.

2009 The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian

Characters and scenes from the Disney film of the same name, on a pack made for Eastern Europe.

2009 Disney Princess

Disney Princess

Featuring Disney Princesses and Enchanting Tales in two sizes of pack made for Eastern Europe.

2009 Mickey Mouse Rummy

Mickey Mouse Rummy

Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and other Disney characters on a pack made for Eastern Europe.

1978 Royal Hawaiian playing cards

Royal Hawaiian playing cards

Royal Hawaiian playing cards published by the Royal Hawaiian Playing Card Company, Honolulu.

1980 Naipe Navarro

Naipe Navarro

Historical figures and artefacts from Navarre with designs by M. Sinués for the Navarre Association ...

1820 Costumes des Peuples Étrangers

Costumes des Peuples Étrangers

Costumes des Peuples Étrangers & Jeu d’Or dedicated to young people and likely used for games and fo...

1999 Shamrock Irish Heritage playing cards

Shamrock Irish Heritage playing cards

A celebration of some of Ireland’s most famous patriots, politicians and poets.

1960 Lenormand Wahrsage-Karten No. 55

Lenormand Wahrsage-Karten No. 55

Conventional Lenormand designs on a pack from Piatnik but with unconventional numbering.

1971 Seiko fashion cards

Seiko fashion cards

Men's and ladies fashion playing cards published for the Seiko Corporation by Nintendo, Japan, 1971....

2022 Britney Spears Oracle

Britney Spears Oracle

Britney Spears Oracle: A Deck and Guidebook to Be Stronger Than Yesterday — a card set for Britney f...

1982 Panty cards

Panty cards

Panty cards designed by Hide Takagaki, Japan, 1982.

1860 Fashion costume pack by O. Gibert

Fashion costume pack by O. Gibert

Elegant fashion costume deck published by O. Gibert, Paris c.1860.

1860 South American Costumes

South American Costumes

Costumes of people of Brazil, Peru and Mexico, with views of Rio de Janeiro on the aces.

1815 Llombart Costume Pack

Llombart Costume Pack

Military-style costume pack made by Anton Llombart, Barcelona, 1815.

2005 Budapest souvenir

Budapest souvenir

Colour views of the Hungarian capital, Budapest, on all the courts and Aces.

1996 Salmon Flies

Salmon Flies

Icelandic pack featuring a different salmon fly on every card.

1961 Neiman Marcus playing cards

Neiman Marcus playing cards

Cowboys and American Indians on a pack for Neiman Marcus, the Dallas department store.

2005 Theatre of Pain / Teatr Boli

Theatre of Pain / Teatr Boli

Theatre of Pain / Teatr boli playing cards depicting politicians and leaders in the Caucasus territo...

Museo del Prado

Museo del Prado

Museo del Prado: Pintores y familias reales / Painters and royal families playing cards.

1983 España Imperial

España Imperial

España imperial / Imperial Spain playing cards with artwork by Serny, published by Heraclio Fournier...

2004 The Teddy deck

The Teddy deck

The Teddy deck designed by UK artist Peter Wood, 2004.

2000 CCCP playing cards

CCCP playing cards

Soviet and other Communist celebrities depicted on every card, designed by Vladislav Pankevitch.

1979 Baraja Aragonesa

Baraja Aragonesa

Celebrating the costumes, architecture, coins and crafts of Aragon in Spain, with designs by Raúl Ro...

1960 Clavecin

Clavecin

Courts in 18th century costume, with designs by F.R. Gabiraud.

2002 Philosophy Football playing cards

Philosophy Football playing cards

Philosophy Football playing cards, United Kingdom, 2002

2005 Modet Sardegna

Modet Sardegna

Costumes, masks and symbols from the island of Sardinia, with designs by Luciano Dettori and Tonino ...

2005 1906 Earthquake

1906 Earthquake

Facts, figures, stories and scandals about the 1906 Earthquake published by the Golden Gate National...

1991 La Compagnie de 1602

La Compagnie de 1602

Characters from the annual festival held to commemorate the failed attempt to storm Geneva in 1602. ...

2006 Les Ordres de Chevalerie

Les Ordres de Chevalerie

Six orders of chivalry represented pictorially by the artist Patrick Dallanégra.

2005 Lascivious playing cards

Lascivious playing cards

Lascivious lingerie playing cards, United Kingdom, c.2005

2018 Russian criminal tattoos and playing cards

Russian criminal tattoos and playing cards

Russian criminal tattoos and playing cards, United Kingdom, 2018.

1997 Bohemia Moravia

Bohemia Moravia

Historical figures from Bohemia and Moravia in Piatnik’s traditional style.

1860 Les Mousquetaires Playing Cards

Les Mousquetaires Playing Cards

depicting characters from the novel by Alexandre Dumas

1981 Barok playing cards nr 232

Barok playing cards nr 232

Courts dressed in Baroque costumes in a pack printed by KZWP, Kraków, Poland, 1981.