Liverpool Daily Post
“Mercury” playing cards produced for the Liverpool Cooperative Society, printed by the Liverpool Daily Post, c.1930
Above: detail from the Ace of Spades showing the rose, thistle and shamrock.
“Mercury” playing cards produced for the Liverpool Cooperative Society and printed by the Liverpool Daily Post, c.1930
The Liverpool Daily Post was a local newspaper in the 19th and 20th centuries. It amalgamated with the Liverpool Mercury in 1904. It clearly had the appropriate printing machinery for producing playing cards, which are on good quality card and with intricately designed courts in full colour. There seems to be only one pack, which was made for the Liverpool Cooperative Society, and was boxed as “Mercury” cards. This must be a reference to the former separate newspaper.
Above: “Mercury” playing cards produced for the Liverpool Cooperative Society printed by the Liverpool Daily Post, c.1930. 52 cards + Joker in plain box. There is no connection with CWS, Manchester, as far as is known. The Jack of Heart has swastikas in his clothing which at this time had no connotations with the National Socialist German Workers' Party.
REFERENCES & CREDITS
E.P.C.S., Newsletter: An Interesting Discovery, Vol.10 No.41 Aug'93 p.51
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
Spain • Member since February 01, 1996 • Contact
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
Bucktrout & Co. Ltd
Half-sized cigarette playing cards published by Bucktrout & Co., Ltd (Guernsey) c.1930.
English Electric Valve Company Ltd
Special pack made for the English Electric Valve Company Ltd Chelmsford, 1989.
Help Yourself Society
The “Help Yourself” Society was formed in 1927 to run fundraising activities for hospitals.
Vac-tric Electric Vacuum Cleaners
Vac-tric Electric Vacuum Cleaner playing cards manufactured by De la Rue, 1930s.
Ottakar’s Happy Families
Ottakar’s Happy Families designed by Chris Burke, 2000.
Beautiful Britain Series
The ‘Beautiful Britain’ series depicting seaside and country resorts was produced by John Waddington...
Wiggins Teape “Hi-Speed” playing cards
Wiggins Teape “Hi-Speed” playing cards manufactured by Waddingtons, c.1970.
John Player Special
John Player Special non-standard playing cards created by the illustrator Nick Price, 1987
Welsh Brewery Playing Cards
Welsh Brewery Playing Cards
Hoover Ltd Playing Cards
Vintage cartoon courts and ace of spades specially designed for Hoover Limited, with full colour bac...
Breedon Press Ltd
Playing cards advertising Sunspel underwear printed by the Breedon Press Ltd, Nottingham, c.1950
Porterprint Ltd
Porterprint was a printing business based in Leeds (UK) which manufactured playing cards during the ...
Liebig Beef Extract
The first cards, or “chromos”, were published in 1872 and during the next 100 years almost 2,000 ser...
Alfred Marks
Alfred Marks Recruitment Consultants publicity playing cards published by Astra Games
Swastika designs
Swastika design playing cards by De La Rue, c.1925.
Rameses Fortune Telling
The Rameses Fortune Telling Cards were manufactured by Chas. Goodall & Son Ltd, London, c.1910, arou...
Carreras Ltd Playing Cards and Dominoes, 1929
Carreras Ltd miniature playing cards and dominoes, 1929
Astra Games
Astra Games was a subsidiary of the McCorquodale Group of Companies, producing playing cards during ...
Carreras Ltd Tobacco Advertising
Carreras issued a number of advertising packs, cigarette and trade cards, miniature packs, etc durin...
Waddington’s 1933 Trade Brochure
Waddington’s 1933 Trade Brochure.
Most Popular
Our top articles from the past 60 days
