Breedon Press Ltd
Playing cards advertising Sunspel underwear printed by the Breedon Press Ltd, Nottingham, c.1950
Breedon Press Ltd, Nottingham, c.1958
Playing cards advertising ‘Sunspel Underwear for Men’ printed by the Breedon Press Ltd, Nottingham, c.1958
Sunspel underwear was made in Nottingham from 1860 onwards and it is still in production. The trade name, Sunspel, was used from 1936, and the factory was situated in Long Eaton, Nottinghamshire, for a considerable period of time. Breedon Press must have been a local printer, who produced a high quality imprint, but it is difficult to get any information about the firm. The design of the playing cards is idiosyncratic and not based on anyone else's.
Above: playing cards advertising Sunspel underwear printed by the Breedon Press Ltd, Nottingham, c.1958. 52 cards + Joker. The registration dates of the Ace of Spades & joker are believed to show that the pack dates from 1958.
REFERENCES & CREDITS
E.P.C.S., Newsletter: An Interesting Discovery, Vol.6 No.24 May 1989 p.32
Lodge, Ken: The Standard English Pattern (second revised and enlarged edition), Bungay, Suffolk, 2010
Images and text kindly supplied by Ken Lodge.
By Simon Wintle
Member since February 01, 1996
I am the founder of The World of Playing Cards (est. 1996), a website dedicated to the history, artistry and cultural significance of playing cards and tarot. Over the years I have researched various areas of the subject, acquired and traded collections and contributed as a committee member of the IPCS and graphics editor of The Playing-Card journal. Having lived in Chile, England, Wales, and now Spain, these experiences have shaped my work and passion for playing cards. Amongst my achievements is producing a limited-edition replica of a 17th-century English pack using woodblocks and stencils—a labour of love. Today, the World of Playing Cards is a global collaborative project, with my son Adam serving as the technical driving force behind its development. His innovative efforts have helped shape the site into the thriving hub it is today. You are warmly invited to become a contributor and share your enthusiasm.
Related Articles
The Molassine Company and its link to Whist and Bridge
A savvy marketing strategy blending Victorian decorative design with Edwardian practicality.
Waddington’s faux books
Waddington’s faux book set containing four packs of playing cards and bridge markers.
Double Dummy Bridge
In the early 20th century several firms began to promote whist or bridge as a game for two.
Ogdens Beauties & Military cigarette cards
Cigarette cards featuring beauties and military uniforms with playing-card insets.
Boddingtons Bitter playing cards
Cool-looking courts advertising Boddingtons Bitter, originally brewed in Manchester.
AKA M5 Motorway
Promotional playing cards for the Hungarian M5 Toll Motorway between Budapest and Röszk.
OXO Faces of the Millennium Dinner
Twentieth-century personalities promoting a millennium dinner at the Oxo Tower in London.
Pathé Marconi
Special promotion pack for French record company Pathé Marconi.
Kids Fun Box playing cards
Colourful cards for children with four non-standard suits connected with the natural world.
Tangle Foot Ale
Badger Brewery Tangle Foot strong ale advertising pack.
ViVa Bourg
A distinctive deck of cards for a specific promotion.
Dancing
“Dancing” playing cards manufactured by Nintendo for Torii Dance School, Osaka.
Scientific Whist
“Scientific Whist” : standard cards with instructions for play on the faces by Chas Goodall & Son, 1...
Agent Provocateur
Branded lingerie collection in a pack of pin-up playing cards.
Shin-Tōmei Expressway Opening Commemoration
Promotional playing cards for the Shin-Tōmei Expressway, a major Japanese expressway that opened in ...
Nimbus playing cards
Mike Steer’s weather-themed pack with suits in four colours and backs for cardistry.
Most Popular
Our top articles from the past 28 days
