Games & Print Services
Games & Print Services Limited, of Canvey Island, now part of Cartamundi.
Games & Print Services Limited, of Canvey Island, Essex, once leading producers of playing cards and card games in the UK, are now a part of Cartamundi. Before the take-over Games & Print Services offered their own court designs as well as different sized indexes or pips. These included traditional or Modern English court styles, Dutch courts or customised faces, with standard or jumbo index, two or four pips, silver or gold edges.
Modern English courts
Above: early Games & Print Services cards showing 4 small bridge indexes and ‘modern’ English courts, c.1997 see more →
Traditional English courts
Above: redesigned traditional courts, special typeface for indexes. The jokers have been re-drawn and the Ace of Spades has a © symbol because of an attempted copyright infringement see more →
Above: a selection of advertising packs with standard traditional English courts and jokers as well as non-standard designs.
Games & Print Services also produce card games, tarot cards, collector cards and other gaming accessories.
Above: The Fool, The Moon, The Wheel of Fortune and The World from Russell Grant's Astrology Club Tarot, published in 1999.
Above: some examples from the extensive range of game cards produced under licence by Games & Print Services. The Monopoly game has Newcastle on Tyne street names.
By Simon Wintle
Spain • 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.
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