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Published October 05, 2014 Updated April 30, 2022

John Player Special

John Player Special non-standard playing cards created by the illustrator Nick Price, 1987

1987 Belgium United Kingdom Nick Price Advertising Tobacco Add to Collection

John Player Special

John Player Special non-standard playing cards created by the illustrator Nick Price, 1987. All cards are printed in red, gold, black & white with black borders. The aces show birds and leaves, the kings are mounted on horseback, the queens hold either a cat or a dog and the jacks are craftsmen, musicians or scientists. The pack is also known with gold borders and a matching back design.

John Player Special non-standard playing cards created by the illustrator Nick Price, 1987

Above: John Player Special non-standard playing cards featuring the charming designs of illustrator Nick Price, 1987. Printed in a limited edition by Carta Mundi.

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By Simon Wintle

Member since February 01, 1996

Founder 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.


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