Christmas Carols
Christmas Carols playing cards illustrated by Stuart Dilks
Originally published in 1997 by the Heritage Playing Card Company, Ilkeston, Derbyshire, and re-issued in 2018, this pack presents the illustrations of the artist Stuart Dilks. Each card in the Heart suit portrays a verse of the Twelve Days of Christmas, while the opening lines of some of the best known and loved Christmas carols are portrayed on the remaining three suits: Silent night, Little donkey, The holy and the ivy, Ding dong merrily on high, Once in royal David’s city, O come all ye faithful, Away in a manger, God rest you merry gentlemen, and many others. There are two jokers, one of which depicts the Star of Bethlehem • See the box
Above: Christmas Carols playing cards illustrated by Stuart Dilks, published by the Heritage Playing Card Company, 1997 & 2018.
By Peter Burnett
United Kingdom • Member since July 27, 2022 • Contact
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
Cathedrals, Abbeys & Minsters playing cards
54 pictures of different famous cathedrals, abbeys and minsters in England and Wales.
The Famous Dinosaurs Playing Cards
54 different dinosaurs, both large and small, illustrated by Cecilia Fitzsimons.
History of London illustrated playing cards
A catalogue in 54 cards of some of the treasures held within the Museum of London collections.
![Testament [classic edition]](/core/cache-wopc-thumbs/var/www/wopc/production/www/images/countries/usa/uspcc/testament-0.480f1331.jpg "Testament [classic edition]")
Testament [classic edition]
Testament playing cards [classic edition] designed by Ben Green, 2020.
Eurocell® playing cards
Promotional playing cards produced by Eurocell® (UPVC window, door, conservatory and roofline system...
Hackett Magical Christmas Gift Guide playing cards
Hackett Magical Christmas Gift Guide playing cards, United Kingdom, 2017.
The Winning Hand
The Winning Hand playing cards with artwork from multiple artists, United Kingdom, 1993.
Meantime brewery
‘Meantime’ craft brewery playing cards, United Kingdom, c. 2000.
Hobby horse playing cards
Hobby horse playing cards produced by Michael Evans in a limited edition of 350 packs, 1986.
Pack of Cocktails
Pack of Cocktails playing cards published by Figure Dynamics in 1985.
Bank of England playing cards
Bank of England playing cards, reflecting prominent characters and events from the Bank’s history.
Cadbury Heritage Collection
Cadbury Heritage Collection playing cards, United Kingdom, 1998.
Cycle all over London
Cycle all over London playing cards published by Transport for London Street Management, 2003.
Goldfish
Playing cards advertising the Goldfish credit card brand, c.1996.
The Deck of Cards
‘The Deck of Cards ’ by Ben Yates, United Kingdom, 2011.
Dickens Character Collection
Dickens Character Collection published for a London Casino as a promotional gift.
Liberal Democrats Playing Cards
Liberal Democrat MPs shown on playing cards at the time of the annual Party Conference in September ...
Even More Trial and Error
“Even More Trial and Error” produced by the Worshipful Company of Makers of Playing Cards, United Ki...
Trial and Error
Trial and Error produced by Lance Whitehouse, Past Master of the Worshipful Company of Makers of Pla...
Pack of dogs
Pack of dogs playing cards with portraits by Gina Andrews, England, 2017.
Most Popular
Our top articles from the past 60 days
