Playing Politics

Published December 06, 2016 Updated April 07, 2023

“Playing Politics” or “Cabinet Shuffle” specially commissioned by the Victoria and Albert Museum, 1983.

1983 United Kingdom Cartamundi InterCol Caricatures Collaborative Political
Playing Politics or Cabinet Shuffle, 1983

Following a long tradition of political decks, leading politicians are portrayed on the court cards and jokers by four caricaturists, Marc (Mark Boxer), Trog (Wally Fawkes), Gerald Scarfe and John Springs. See the Box

Playing Politics or Cabinet Shuffle, 1983 Playing Politics or Cabinet Shuffle, 1983

Above: “Playing Politics” or “Cabinet Shuffle” specially commissioned by the Victoria and Albert Museum in conjunction with InterCol London, designed by Wurr & Wurr, printed by Carta Mundi, 1983.

Playing Politics or Cabinet Shuffle, 1983

CREDITS

Images courtesy Rex Pitts. Leaflet notes by Yasha Beresiner and Nicky Bird.

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By Rex Pitts (1940-2021)

Member since January 30, 2009

Rex's main interest was in card games, because, he said, they were cheap and easy to get hold of in his early days of collecting. He is well known for his extensive knowledge of Pepys games and his book is on the bookshelves of many.

His other interest was non-standard playing cards. He also had collections of sheet music, music CDs, models of London buses, London Transport timetables and maps and other objects that intrigued him.

Rex had a chequered career at school. He was expelled twice, on one occasion for smoking! Despite this he trained as a radio engineer and worked for the BBC in the World Service.

Later he moved into sales and worked for a firm that made all kinds of packaging, a job he enjoyed until his retirement. He became an expert on boxes and would always investigate those that held his cards. He could always recognize a box made for Pepys, which were the same as those of Alf Cooke’s Universal Playing Card Company, who printed the card games. This interest changed into an ability to make and mend boxes, which he did with great dexterity. He loved this kind of handicraft work.

His dexterity of hand and eye soon led to his making card games of his own design. He spent hours and hours carefully cutting them out and colouring them by hand.

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