Jackspack Royal Navy Playing Cards
54 humorous illustrations of Royal Navy characters and Navy slang.
Unless one serves in – or has previously served in – the Royal Navy, navy humour can sometimes be difficult to understand. Some of the humorous terms are explained in this pack. According to the extra card, the cartoon-style drawings were created and painted by serving personnel. Ranks or job titles are given at the top of each card, with navy expressions or slang at the foot. The four suits are split as follows: Spades for the Submarine Flotilla, Hearts for the Fleet Air Arm, Clubs for the Royal Marines, and Diamonds for the Surface Flotilla. Packs were made with either blue or red backs. Proceeds from the sale of these packs went to support a naval charity. See the box►
Above: Jackspack Royal Navy Playing Cards produced by Hold Fast Naval Cards. Published by Neil Macleod Prints & Enterprises Ltd, Bridge of Weir, Scotland, UK. Printed by Carta Mundi, Turnhout, Belgium, 1996. 52 cards + 2 Jokers + 1 extra information card in tuck box. Size: 63 x 88 mm. © HOLD FAST NAVAL CARDS 1996.
By Roddy Somerville
France • Member since May 31, 2022
Roddy started collecting stamps on his 8th birthday. In 1977 he joined the newly formed playing-card department at Stanley Gibbons in London before setting up his own business in Edinburgh four years later. His collecting interests include playing cards, postcards, stamps (especially playing cards on stamps) and sugar wrappers. He is a Past President of the Scottish Philatelic Society, a former Chairman of the IPCS, a Past Master of the Worshipful Company of Makers of Playing Cards and Curator of the WCMPC’s collection of playing cards. He lives near Toulouse in France.
Activity for Jackspack Royal Navy Playing Cards
Sign in to comment or save this article.
Related Articles
Boddingtons Bitter playing cards
Cool-looking courts advertising Boddingtons Bitter, originally brewed in Manchester.
The Glasgow Pack
Issued to celebrate Glasgow’s reign as European City of Culture in 1990, with city views and works o...
Scruffy Mutts
‘Scruffy Mutts’ dog-themed playing cards, United Kingdom, c.1998.
Hamlet Cigars
Advertising deck for “Hamlet mild cigars”, a Benson & Hedges product.
The Art of Erté
Luxury playing cards displaying artwork by Erté, published in 1983 by Sobranie of London.
B-Deck
“B-Deck” scurrilous playing cards poking fun at a former UK prime minister.
Tottering-by-Gently
‘Tottering-by-Gently’ playing cards with cartoons by Annie Tempest.
Guildhall Art Gallery playing cards
54 different paintings from the collection of the Guildhall Art Gallery, London.
Packs of Prizes
‘Packs of Prizes’ playing cards advertising Neosorexa pest control products.
The Cartoonists' Pack
Semi-transformation pack created by four famous British cartoonists.
Guinness World Records Cards
52 Guinness World Records Cards published by if, Pickering, UK, 2011.
Harold Samuel Collection playing cards
The Harold Samuel Collection of Dutch and Flemish seventeenth-century artworks, United Kingdom, 2012...
Agatha Christie Playing Cards
Agatha Christie playing cards produced by Planet Three Collection, United Kingdom, c. 2004.
Pranks & Mimics for the Party
Pranks & Mimics for the Party, 1950s.
Desperanto
Desperanto language game by Qui Vive Ltd, c.1990.
Royal Pavilion at Brighton
The Royal Pavilion, also known as the Brighton Pavilion, is an Asian-style palace built for King Geo...
Guns & Gadgets 007
“007 Guns & Gadgets” themed playing cards printed by Carta Mundi, 2005.
Little Britain
“Little Britain” fan deck published by the BBC in 2005.
Advertising deck for Carta Mundi
Advertising deck for Carta Mundi produced by Carta Mundi, 2001
Jolly Jack Tar Snap
Jolly Jack Tar Snap made in England, 1920s.
Most Popular
Our top articles from the past 60 days
Peter Burnett
19 November 2025, 09:47SavedSaved this article to Peter's Collection