Deakin’s 3rd edition
Deakin’s Political Playing Cards 3rd edition, c.1888.
Deakin’s Political Playing Cards 3rd edition published by the wholesale stationers Deakin & Company, 45 Eastcheap, London E.C. and manufactured by W.H. Willis & Co, c.1888. The court cards are double-ended portraits of prominent statesmen of the day, satirising political issues, and the ace of spades and box have a design reminiscent of Big Ben with the title and maker’s name. The pip cards have miniature ‘triplicate’ indices in two opposing corners.
The packs were printed in three editions by Willis and Co. See 1st Edition →
Above: Deakin’s Political Playing Cards 3rd edition, c.1888
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.
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