Sixty Penguin Years Playing Cards
In celebration of 60 years of publishing Penguin Books Ltd, 1995.

In celebration of 60 years of publishing (1935-1995), Penguin Books Ltd. produced this promotional pack of 54 cards in 1995. Each card shows an original book cover from the broad range of titles produced in the many different Penguin series: Mystery and crime; Fiction; World affairs; Classics; Travel and adventure, etc.
See the box►





Above: Sixty Penguin Years playing cards, Penguin Books Ltd, 1995.

By Peter Burnett
Member since July 27, 2022
I graduated in Russian and East European Studies from Birmingham University in 1969. It was as an undergraduate in Moscow in 1968 that I stumbled upon my first 3 packs of “unusual” playing cards which fired my curiosity and thence my life-long interest. I began researching and collecting cards in the early 1970s, since when I’ve acquired over 3,330 packs of non-standard cards, mainly from North America, UK and Western Europe, and of course from Russia and the former communist countries.
Following my retirement from the Bodleian Library in Dec. 2007 I took up a new role as Head of Library Development at the International Network for the Availability of Scientific Publications (INASP) to support library development in low-income countries. This work necessitated regular training visits to many sub-Saharan African countries and also further afield, to Vietnam, Nepal and Bangladesh – all of which provided rich opportunities to further expand my playing card collection.
Since 2019 I’ve been working part-time in the Bodleian Library where I’ve been cataloguing the bequest of the late Donald Welsh, founder of the English Playing Card Society.
Trending Articles
Popular articles from the past 28 days
Related Articles

Woodblock and Stencil King of Diamonds
A limited edition art print of the King of Diamonds 1984 woodblock joker.

Woodblock and Stencil Jack of Hearts
A limited edition art print of the Jack of Hearts 1984 woodblock joker.

Woodblock and Stencil Jack of Clubs
A limited edition art print of the Jack of Clubs 1984 woodblock joker.

Woodblock and Stencil Joker
A limited edition art print of the 1984 woodblock joker.

Jane Austen playing cards
Jane Austen playing cards published by Prospero Art, USA, 2013.

75: Early American cards
An overview of some of the early cards made in the United States.

Das Nassauische Kartenspiel
Pack conceived by Berthold Conradi, commemorating the 700th anniversary of the granting of town righ...

The Pack of Positivity
Katie Abey’s rainbow-coloured designs using crazy animals to convey motivating phrases.

On-line offsite data backup
On-line offsite data backup publicity playing cards produced by The Bunker, United Kingdom, c. 2004....

The Famous Dinosaurs Playing Cards
54 different dinosaurs, both large and small, illustrated by Cecilia Fitzsimons.

Commemorative Olympic Playing Cards
Commemorative Olympic Playing Cards produced by Waddingtons exclusively for Stanley Gibbons Antiquar...

Dorset Dialect Trails
‘Dorset Dialect Trails’ playing cards, United Kingdom, 2015.

Mario Testino playing cards
A selection of Mario Testino’s photographic work in various fields, notably fashion.

Clamcleats playing cards
Clamcleats playing cards for sailors designed by Celia Allison, New Zealand, 1986.

Around the world in 54 cards
“Around the world in 54 cards” hand-coloured transformation pack produced by Peter Wood, United King...

The Journey
‘The Journey’ limited edition playing cards produced by Peter Wood, UK, 2008.

Les Montgolfières 1783-1983
Honouring the bicentenary of the Montgolfier brothers’ first balloon flights in 1783.

Pretty Frills
‘Pretty Frills’ playing cards promoting curtain and blind accessories.

The Origin of Patience Games in English
Jessel’s Bibliography of works in English on Playing Cards and Gaming describes “The first book on P...

Centennial Olympic Games playing cards
Centennial Olympic Games playing cards celebrating the centenary of the modern Olympic Games, 1896-1...

The Broons and Oor Wullie playing cards
Characters from The Broons and Oor Wullie comic strips on their 75th anniversary.

History of London illustrated playing cards
A catalogue in 54 cards of some of the treasures held within the Museum of London collections.

Ladbroke Sporting Casino
Ladbroke Sporting Casino caricature cartoon playing cards, U.K, c.2006.

Star Wars: a New Hope
‘Star Wars: a New Hope’ playing cards to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the film Star Wars, USA, ...

The Evolution of Bezique boxed sets, 1869 to 1990
The first company to register Bezique materials with Stationers’ Hall was Josh Reynolds & Son in Sep...

Buffalo soldiers
“Buffalo soldiers” playing cards commemorating African American military men who helped change the f...

Gibert Jeune
Publicity pack for Gibert Jeune, the famous Parisian bookshop, with designs by James Hodges.

Century of Progress
‘Century of Progress’ Exposition playing cards produced by Western Playing Card Company, USA, 1933. ...

Goodall 1915-1916 Sample Book
Complete contents of a sample book by Goodall & Sons

Goodall 1916 Rockleigh Sample Book
Complete contents of a sample book by Goodall

Goodall 1879-1880 Sample Book
Complete contents of a sample book by Goodall & Sons

De La Rue 1932-1933 Sample Book of Advertising cards
Complete contents of a sample book of advertising cards by De La Rue

A Gardener’s Labyrinth
Photographs of flowers, herbs and vegetables by leading photographer Tessa Traeger.

Jonathan Hocus Pocus
Two sets of conjuring cards published by G. Martin, 6 Great St Thomas Apostle, London, early 19th ce...

Henley-on-Thames playing cards
Calendar events and visitor attractions to be found in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire.

De La Rue Pocket Guides
The 19th Century saw the production, by all of the major companies, of pocket guides or “mini-books”...

National Railway Museum
National Railway Museum with drawings by Stuart Black, United Kingdom, 1993.

Révolution 1789-1989
Révolution 1789-1989, celebrating the bicentenary of the French revolution, France, 1989

Will’s Cigarettes and Auction Bridge
In 1926 Will’s issued a set of 25 cigarette cards on Auction Bridge, presenting a range of hands ill...

The Club Series by G. Bell & Sons
George Bell & Sons produced ‘The Club Series’ of books each specialising in one or more of the popul...

Hoyle v Foster: whose name should we remember?
Hoyle’s name is associated with the rules by which many games are played, particularly card games B...

Cribbage Patience or Cribbage Squares
Cribbage Patience or Cribbage Squares, produced by Messrs Edward Mortimer, Halifax and London.

Hoyle and his Legacy
Edmond Hoyle (1672-1769) was an English writer who made his name by writing on whist and a selection...

Glorious Scotland
54 photographic views of Scotland by Duncan I. McEwan.