The Winning Hand
The Winning Hand playing cards with artwork from multiple artists, United Kingdom, 1993.
This special edition 54-card pack, published in 1993, is “made up of the winning designs submitted by students from over 250 art schools and colleges from around the UK who entered the Winning Hand design competition, jointly sponsored by the Victoria and Albert Museum and Virgin Atlantic Airways”. (From the accompanying information card which is signed by the respective institutional directors: Elizabeth Esteve-Coll and Richard Branson). The cards are colourful and attractive, but unfortunately the chosen artists/designers are not named. See the box►
Above: The Winning Hand playing cards with artwork from multiple artists, sponsored by the Victoria and Albert Museum and Virgin Atlantic Airways, United Kingdom, 1993.
Endnote
A 2-page article in Playing-Card World, No. 72, May 1993, pp 26-7 (almost certainly by John Berry, though not signed), mentions the prizewinners and also the fact that Elaine Lewis contributed the 7 of Hearts. Furthermore, all the artists were asked to submit original work not offered or used elsewhere. Unfortunately, it was discovered that one artist had disobeyed this instruction so the decision was taken to withdraw the pack from sale after a short period of time. I'm not sure whether it was ever re-issued with a different card in place of the offending one - Roddy Somerville.
By Peter Burnett
United Kingdom • Member since July 27, 2022 • Contact
I graduated in Russian and East European Studies from Birmingham University in 1969. It was as an undergraduate in Moscow in 1968 that I stumbled upon my first 3 packs of “unusual” playing cards which fired my curiosity and thence my life-long interest. I began researching and collecting cards in the early 1970s, since when I’ve acquired over 3,330 packs of non-standard cards, mainly from North America, UK and Western Europe, and of course from Russia and the former communist countries.
Following my retirement from the Bodleian Library in Dec. 2007 I took up a new role as Head of Library Development at the International Network for the Availability of Scientific Publications (INASP) to support library development in low-income countries. This work necessitated regular training visits to many sub-Saharan African countries and also further afield, to Vietnam, Nepal and Bangladesh – all of which provided rich opportunities to further expand my playing card collection.
Since 2019 I’ve been working part-time in the Bodleian Library where I’ve been cataloguing the bequest of the late Donald Welsh, founder of the English Playing Card Society.
Related Articles
Go Go Gorillas!
Go Go Gorillas! charity playing cards sponsored by the Eastern Daily Press and the Norwich Evening N...
Art for Life
Art for Life playing cards illustrated by Francesc Artigau i Seguí for the British Red Cross, 2014. ...
Versus playing cards
Versus collaborative art playing cards vol.1 & 2, United Kingdom, 2010-2011.
Lascivious playing cards
Lascivious lingerie playing cards, United Kingdom, c.2005
Decadence?
“Decadence?” playing cards published by the Crafts Council, London in 1999.
Tamarind Institute stacked deck
Tamarind Institute stacked deck, USA, 2003
Eurocell® playing cards
Promotional playing cards produced by Eurocell® (UPVC window, door, conservatory and roofline system...
Hackett Magical Christmas Gift Guide playing cards
Hackett Magical Christmas Gift Guide playing cards, United Kingdom, 2017.
Meantime brewery
‘Meantime’ craft brewery playing cards, United Kingdom, c. 2000.
Liberal Democrats Playing Cards
Liberal Democrat MPs shown on playing cards at the time of the annual Party Conference in September ...
Even More Trial and Error
“Even More Trial and Error” produced by the Worshipful Company of Makers of Playing Cards, United Ki...
Trial and Error
Trial and Error produced by Lance Whitehouse, Past Master of the Worshipful Company of Makers of Pla...
Pack of dogs
Pack of dogs playing cards with portraits by Gina Andrews, England, 2017.
The Bristol Pack
The Bristol Pack, an exhibition of playing cards designed by Bristol artists, 2005.
The Deck of Cards
The Deck of Cards by Andrew Jones Art, 1979.
Under the Sea
“Under the Sea” transformation playing cards, published in 2005 to raise money for the Marine Stewar...
Prime Arts
Prime Arts Playing Cards were published in 2004 featuring the work of contemporary artists, illustra...
Monsters
A collective of artists known as Monster Illustration produced a deck entitled “Monsters” in 2004.
Hunt, c.1800
Standard English pattern playing cards manufactured by Hunt, c.1800.
Chance Playing Cards by Catalyst UK
CHANCE Playing Cards are produced by Catalyst, an open group of women artists and scientists founded...
Most Popular
Our top articles from the past 60 days
