The Beatles playing cards
Two packs featuring photos of The Beatles issued by the same publisher in 2004 and 2005.
Pack 1
54 different photographs of the Fab Four (John, Paul, George, and Ringo), with almost one third in colour and the rest in black and white. The back shows a photo of the members of the group above a piece of red and orange (gold?) material.
Above: The Beatles playing cards designed by Haime & Butler. Published by Worldwide Co., London, UK, 2004. Printed in Taiwan. 52 cards + 2 Jokers in tuck box. Size: 63 x 88 mm. © Photos: Retna. © Design/text: Nicky Bird Design.
Pack 2
54 different photographs of the Fab Four, with about a dozen in colour and the rest in black and white. Eight of the photos are repeated from Pack 1, but only two are on the same card as in Pack 1 (AS, 5S). One of the Jokers shows John Lennon with Harold Wilson. Backs: horizontal format with only the heads of the four members of the group.
Above: The Beatles playing cards published by Worldwide Co., London, UK, 2005. 52 cards + 2 Jokers in tuck box. Printed in Taiwan. Size: 63 x 88 mm. Photographs: © Getty Images except AS, KH, 9H, 7D, 6C, 5S, 3S, 2S © Retna. Design © Nicky Bird Design, 2005
By Roddy Somerville
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.
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