Simon Wintle
Member since February 01, 1996Founder and editor of the World of Playing Cards since 1996. He is a former committee member of the IPCS and was graphics editor of The Playing-Card journal for many years. He has lived at various times in Chile, England and Wales and is currently living in Extremadura, Spain. Simon's first limited edition pack of playing cards was a replica of a seventeenth century traditional English pack, which he produced from woodblocks and stencils.
Quickie Wheelchairs
Uncut sheet of ‘Quickie’ Wheelchairs Quartet card game, made in Poland 2004
Vandenborre Tarot
Belgian Tarot published by François-Jean Vandenborre, Brussels (1762-1803)
Apache Playing Cards
Apache Indian Playing Cards made on rawhide, first recorded 1875.
Poker N°40
Hijos de Heraclio Fournier’s “Poker N°40” c.1940.
Klipp Klapp Karten
“Klipp Klapp Karten” printed by KZWP-Trefl (Poland) for Kindermuseum Oelde (Germany) in 2004
El Jokey by Piatnik, 1990s
‘El Jokey’ Spanish-suited pack by Piatnik & Sons, Vienna, 1990s
Kon-Vex Playing Cards
Waddington’s introduced a series of unusual shapes in the early 1950s.
El Ciervo N°4
“El Ciervo” No.4 manufactured by Hija de Antonio Comas during the Spanish Civil War, with mural crown and flag of the 2nd Republic on the ace of coins, c.1938.
Gilbert & Sullivan Cards
“Gilbert & Sullivan” hand-made Savoy Operas pack designed and created by Rex Pitts.
Naipes Samsó N°2-S
Naipes Samsó published by N.E.G.S.A. (Barcelona) c.1965.
Descubridores y Colonizadores de America
“Baraja Histórica” (Descubridores y Colonizadores de America) manufactured by Heraclio Fournier S.A., 1952 designed by Ricardo Summers “Serny”
Baraja Cartomántica Chocolates Nelia
Some examples of playing cards made in Catalonia from the collection of Iris Mundus, Barcelona.
Artistas del Cine
Advertising pack designed by J. Passos and first printed by Cromografía Irández, Barcelona, c.1926. Re-printed in 1995.
Xilografías de Mallorca
Spanish National pattern re-printed from original woodblocks which are preserved in the monastery at Valdemosa, Mallorca, c.1960.
Bartlett Ackermann Transformation
Pictorial playing cards published by C. Bartlett, New York, 1833.
Globe Card Company
“Globe Playing Cards” patented on Oct. 6, 1874 by I. N. Richardson.
Wiggins Teape “Hi-Speed” playing cards
Wiggins Teape “Hi-Speed” playing cards manufactured by Waddingtons, c.1970.
Torras y Sanmartí
Torras y Sanmartí y Cía, Barcelona, 1830.
Catalan Playing Cards
With a distinct history stretching back to the early middle ages, many Catalans think of themselves as a separate nation from the rest of Spain.
Creature Comfort
Creature Comfort playing cards designed by Don Moyer, 2017.
John Player Special
John Player Special non-standard playing cards created by the illustrator Nick Price, 1987
Cultúrlán
Celtic myth playing cards inspired by the rich Celtic pantheon of mythological Gods, Goddesses, and heroes
Serpentine
‘Serpentine’ Playing Cards published by Legends P.C.Co., 2014.
Welsh Brewery Playing Cards
Welsh Brewery Playing Cards
Fanning the Playing Cards
The manner of holding the cards in the hand is related to a player’s needs to view his/her hand in a logically organised way, perhaps categorised into sets or sequences, usually reading from left to right...
Hoover Ltd Playing Cards
Vintage cartoon courts and ace of spades specially designed for Hoover Limited, with full colour back showing the Art Deco style Hoover factory at Perivale, manufactured by Waddington's Playing Cards, c.1930.
The Cardini Playing Cards
Richard Valentine Pitchford, better known as Cardini, is one of that select band of performers who became legends during their own lifetimes
Legends Playing Cards
Legends Playing Card Company (founded 2013) aspires to print the highest quality playing cards and packaging in the world.
Hiroshige Ukiyo-e playing cards
“Hiroshige” playing cards drawn by Hiroshige Ando (1797-1858) at 53 stopoffs on the journey from Edo (Tokyo) to Kyoto.
Hewson
Antique English woodblock playing cards by a card maker named C. Hewson, mid-17th century.
Origins Playing Cards
Rick Davidson's “Origins” playing cards is an inspired, present-day re-design of the standard Anglo-American deck
Goodall & Son’s Patience & Miniature packs
Goodall & Son’s Patience & Miniature packs came in various styles of box and back design, c.1890-1930.
Zodiac Club
‘Zodiac Club Playing Cards’ for Pepys, c.1965-75.
Later Bavarian Pattern
Later Bavarian single-ended pattern by Vereinigte Altenburg-Stralsunder Spielkarten-Fabriken A-G., c.1937
Orient-Express Playing Cards
Orient Express playing cards evoking a bygone era of chauffeurs, monocles and exoticism. Manufactured by Waddingtons, c.1990.
Venice Simplon-Orient-Express Playing Cards
The images for the cards were inspired by the typical passengers who traveled in luxury style in the 1920s and 30s.
Manx Playing Card Stamps
Isle of Man stamp issue based upon the history of Manx themed playing cards, featuring six fascinating, full colour stamps showing antique playing cards.
L’Utile col Diletto
Geographical and Heraldic Tarocchi cards from Bologna, 1725.
Magyar Kártya No.123
Luxus No.123 Hungarian seasons pattern manufactured in Hungary by the Playing-Card Factory and Printing House, c.1970.
Mitelli ‘Gioco di Passatempo’
Il Gioco di Passatempo contains 40 figurative playing cards depicting moral virtues and vices, dated 1690.
Steam Ark Playing Cards
“Steam Ark” playing cards illustrated by Chet Phillips, 2014
Portuguese pattern
19th century Portuguese pattern, re-printed from original woodblocks.
British Playing Cards
British Playing Cards Ltd was the predecessor of Universal P.C.Co. and involved Alf Cooke of Leeds and Bemrose of Birmingham, and maybe one or two other printing firms.
Liverpool Daily Post
“Mercury” playing cards produced for the Liverpool Cooperative Society, printed by the Liverpool Daily Post, c.1930
Minchiate Fiorentine, 17th C.
17th century Minchiate cards reprinted from the original woodblocks.
Breedon Press Ltd
Playing cards advertising Sunspel underwear printed by the Breedon Press Ltd, Nottingham, c.1950
Hans Sebald Beham
Playing cards designed by Hans Sebald Beham (1500–1550).
Dienst Justitiële Inrichtingen
Playing cards published by the Dutch Prison Service, giving a look behind the gates of Judicial / Custodial institutions
Pomorski Poker
Pomorski Poker (Pomeranian Poker) is a gallery of characters from the region: politicians, media, culture, athletes, entrepreneurial women, etc.
Kriegs-Spiel by Peter Schencken, Amsterdam
Peter Schencken of Amsterdam copied the "Jeu de la Guerre" or "Das Kriegs-Spiel" (with German captions) originated by Gilles de La Boissière and published by Mariette in 1668 in Paris.
Cardiology Trials
Cardiology Trials - limited edition playing cards by Krakowskie Zaklady Wyrobów Papierowych Trefl (KZWP), 2003