Crown Hill playing cards
Crown Hill playing cards with illustrations by Corrine Guiney, USA,
This pack was produced by Hill Enterprises of Gualala, California, in 1980. The original artwork used to produce these cards is by the illustrator, Corrine Guiney. She often painted with a single hair art brush to get the beautiful detail that is seen in these cards. She is also known for her illustrations in two very rare miniature books: Beauty and the Beast (1982), and A Pressing Problem: Being the True Story of the Printer's Devil (1982). Each card is displayed against a cream/pale yellow oval background, with the Aces designed in the style of coats-of-arms and the court cards dressed in highly decorative and colourful medieval courtly costume. There are two slightly different humorous jokers. The cards were originally published as a double pack.
Above: Crown Hill playing cards with illustrations by Corrine Guiney, produced by Hill Enterprises of Gualala, California, in 1980.
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
Pendleton playing cards
Pendleton playing cards inspired by indigenous American artwork, USA, 2019.
Bicycle Favole
Bicycle Favole playing cards featuring the designs of Victoria Francés, USA, 2013
Newtropolis and the Fantastic Fur
Newtropolis and the Fantastic Fur: Heroes vs. Villains playing cards illustrated by Peter Wood, 2015...
Bicycle EveRydAy zomBIES
Bicycle “EveRydAy zomBIES” playing cards with artwork by Rob Sacchetto, USA, 2013.
Bicycle Elves & Orcs
Bicycle ‘Elves & Orcs’ playing cards illustrated by Nathanael Iwata, USA, 2013.
Museum of Modern Art
Museum of Modern Art playing cards designed by Takenobu Igarashi.
Tamarind Institute stacked deck
Tamarind Institute stacked deck, USA, 2003
Lifesaving Earthquake Safety Tips
54 Lifesaving earthquake safety tips playing cards produced by the Golden Gate National Parks Conser...
Stacked Deck
“Stacked Deck” business caricature playing cards, USA, c. 2003.
Hawaiian Souvenir playing cards
Hawaiian Souvenir playing cards, 1901.
Spyscape
Spyscape espionage, surveillance and cryptography themed playing cards, 2018.
Bicycle Knights
Bicycle Knights playing cards designed by Sam Hayles in 2018.
Anne Stokes Collection
Anne Stokes Collection playing cards, 2010.
Punch Studio: ‘Geisha Girls’
‘Geisha Girls’ playing cards published by Punch Studio, Culver City, CA., 2013
Trump 777
Trump 777 decorative playing cards by Hallmark.
Bicycle Butterfly
Bicycle Butterfly playing cards from RSVP Magic with artwork by ‘Lotrék’ and printed by USPCC, 2012....
Creature Comfort
Creature Comfort playing cards designed by Don Moyer, 2017.
Tales from the Stage
"Tales from the Stage" - an article about theatrical playing cards by Rod Starling
Ian Roth’s Unique playing cards
Ian Roth’s Unique playing cards
Pippoglyph
Pippoglyph Playing Cards by Ben Crenshaw © 2004
Most Popular
Our top articles from the past 60 days
