University of Essex

Published December 06, 2015 Updated September 14, 2023

A deck of cards produced for the University of Essex in around 2005-2006.

2005 United Kingdom Advertising Education

A deck of cards was produced for the University of Essex in around 2005-2006. The cards are slightly large and include a third joker with dates for applications. The back of the box lists open day dates in 2006, contact details, and a list of the degree courses offered by the University - including “space hopping”. The University of Essex give out these packs to visiting school children as part of their marketing strategy, and “space hopping” is NOT a degree course offered, but rather was slipped in as a joke. Each ace has the same picture, in keeping with the courts and two jokers which are likewise the same. See the box

Pack produced for the University of Essex c.2005-2006 Pack produced for the University of Essex c.2005-2006
Pack produced for the University of Essex c.2005-2006

Addendum from Peter Burnett

Interestingly, the University of Essex produced a similar pack one year earlier. The back of the box lists open day dates in 2005, while the extra card gives information about the University application process for 2005-2006. While the Jokers, Aces, Jacks and Queens show the same images as the later pack (shown above), the Kings have a different image. The image on the card backs and the box shows the same image as that which appears on the Kings on the later edition. See the box

Pack produced for the University of Essex c.2005

Above: earlier edition of University of Essex playing cards. Images courtesy Peter Burnett.

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By Matt Probert

Member since March 02, 2012

I have adored playing cards since before I was seven years old, and was brought up on packs of Waddington's No 1. As a child I was fascinated by the pictures of the court cards.

Over the next fifty years I was seduced by the artwork in Piatnik's packs and became a collector of playing cards.

Seeking more information about various unidentified packs I discovered the World of Playing Cards website and became an enthusiastic contributor researching and documenting different packs of cards.

I describe my self as a playing card archaeologist, using detective work to identify and date obscure packs of cards discovered in old houses, flea markets and car boot sales.

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