Christmas 1980 playing cards
Festive courts on a Waddingtons pack designed to celebrate Christmas 1980.
Recognisable figures associated with the festive season feature on the courts in this pack – Father Christmas or Santa Claus on the Kings, the Good Fairy on the Queens, Jack Frost on the Jacks, and snowmen on the Jokers. A partridge in a pear tree is shown in black and white on the Ace of Spades and in colour on the backs, against either a blue or a yellow background. Waddingtons probably did not want it to be known that these cards were actually printed by A.S.S. in West Germany. They gave packs as Christmas presents to their best customers (see scan of gift card) and later sold packs into the collectors’ market.
Above: Christmas 1980 playing cards printed by A.S.S., Leinfelden, Germany, for Waddingtons Playing Card Co., Ltd, Leeds & London, UK, 1980. 52 cards + 2 Jokers + 1 bridge score card in clear plastic box. Size: 57 x 89 mm.
By Roddy Somerville
France • 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.
Activity for Christmas 1980 playing cards
Sign in to comment or save this article.
Related Articles
Tangle Foot Ale
Badger Brewery Tangle Foot strong ale advertising pack.
Hollywood Greats playing cards
18 stars in black and white from the Golden Age of Hollywood.
A Barribal variant for Christmas
Christmas gift with a difference, made by Waddington’s, Leeds, 1931.
Waddingtons Nursery Rhymes
Nursery rhyme playing cards by Waddingtons, Leeds, UK, 1975.
Pooltella
Pooltella cards by John Waddington Ltd, the cards that simplify football pool forecasts, 1930s.
S. Salomon & Co Nr.154
Nr.154 Holmblads made by John Waddington Ltd specially for S. Salomon & Co., Copenhagen
![28: How to Analyze and Differentiate Playing Card Plates (De La Rue, Waddington and the Berlin pattern [Französisches Bild])](/core/cache-wopc-thumbs/var/www/wopc/production/www/images/contributors/kenlodge/4889-analyzing-playing-card-plates/JS_D1-D2-D3.b26b0503.jpg "28: How to Analyze and Differentiate Playing Card Plates (De La Rue, Waddington and the Berlin pattern [Französisches Bild])")
28: How to Analyze and Differentiate Playing Card Plates (De La Rue, Waddington and the Berlin pattern [Französisches Bild])
My interest in postage stamp variants led me to apply the same principles to playing cards.
17: Waddington, Including some of their Less Common Packs
John Berry's two-volume work on the Waddington archive and collection is a comprehensive presentatio...
John Waddington Ltd, early type
John Waddington Ltd, early type Ace of Spades and court cards, 1922-30.
Waddington’s “Rural England” Series, 1933
Waddington’s "Rural England" Series, 1933.
Waddington’s “Flying” Series, 1933
Waddington’s “Flying” Series, 1933.
Waddington’s “Envoy“ Series
Waddington’s “Envoy“ Series.
Waddington’s Wildlife and Classic Series, 1933
Waddington’s Wildlife and Classic Series, 1933.
Waddington’s Varsity Series
Waddington’s Varsity Series.
Waddington’s Old Master Series, 1933
Waddington’s Old Master Series, 1933
Waddington’s Dog Series
Waddington’s Dog Series, 1933
Waddington’s Classic and Wildlife Series, 1933
Waddington’s Classic and Wildlife Series, 1933.
Waddington’s Clan Tartan Series
Waddington’s Clan Tartan Series, 1933.
Waddington’s 1933 Trade Brochure
Waddington’s 1933 Trade Brochure.
Waddington’s Playing Cards
John Waddington Limited was a leading producer of playing cards and card games in the UK during the ...
Most Popular
Our top articles from the past 60 days
