Harry Rountree
Designs by Harry Rountree (1878-1950); Waddington's 1933 Trade Brochure.
Playing Card back designs by Harry Rountree (1878-1950)
for John Waddington Ltd, 1930s
Harry Rountree was born in New Zealand and moved to England in 1901, when he was 23 years old. He settled in London, struggling to make a living as a magazine and book illustrator. Eventually, the editor of Little Folks magazine took him on, and this proved Rountree's big break. From 1903 on, he was one of the most popular and well-known illustrators in London. He illustrated the books 'Fairy Tales' by Dumas (1904), 'Alice in Wonderland' (1908), 'The Story of Wicked Tim' (1917) and many more. In 1919, he was the chief illustrator for comic magazine Playtime, the first succesful comic in half-tabloid format.
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
||||
|
|||||||
By Simon Wintle
Spain • Member since February 01, 1996
I am the founder of The World of Playing Cards (est. 1996), a website dedicated to the history, artistry and cultural significance of playing cards and tarot. Over the years I have researched various areas of the subject, acquired and traded collections and contributed as a committee member of the IPCS and graphics editor of The Playing-Card journal. Having lived in Chile, England, Wales, and now Spain, these experiences have shaped my work and passion for playing cards. Amongst my achievements is producing a limited-edition replica of a 17th-century English pack using woodblocks and stencils—a labour of love. Today, the World of Playing Cards is a global collaborative project, with my son Adam serving as the technical driving force behind its development. His innovative efforts have helped shape the site into the thriving hub it is today. You are warmly invited to become a contributor and share your enthusiasm.
Activity for Harry Rountree
Sign in to comment or save this article.
Related Articles
Tangle Foot Ale
Badger Brewery Tangle Foot strong ale advertising pack.
Commemorative Olympic Playing Cards
Commemorative Olympic Playing Cards produced by Waddingtons exclusively for Stanley Gibbons Antiquar...
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.
Waddington’s “Silkette” Playing Cards
Cards made by John Waddington Ltd. for the Madras Club, Chennai (formerly Madras), India, c.1930.
Pooltella
Pooltella cards by John Waddington Ltd, the cards that simplify football pool forecasts, 1930s.
Little Demons
“Little Demons” playing cards illustrated by Wayne Anderson, c.1970
100 Pipers
100 Pipers Scotch Whisky promotional deck, Waddingtons P.C.Co., c.1973. Includes a Tarot pack offer....
Souvenir of Scotland
52 Selected Views of Scotland produced for United Cigar & Tobacco Co. Ltd, Glasgow, Scotland by Raph...
S. Salomon & Co Nr.154
Nr.154 Holmblads made by John Waddington Ltd specially for S. Salomon & Co., Copenhagen
Historical Characters
“Historical Characters” playing cards printed by Waddington’s for Thermawear Ltd, 1994.
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 “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 Classic and Wildlife Series, 1933
Waddington’s Classic and Wildlife Series, 1933.
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







