Pendleton playing cards
Pendleton playing cards inspired by indigenous American artwork, USA, 2019.
In 1863 Thomas Kay, an English weaver, began making woollen products in Oregon and in 1909, his daughter, Fannie Kay Bishop and her sons opened Pendleton Woollen Mills. Under her direction, Pendleton established trading connections with the indigenous communities, often creating blankets incorporating indigenous designs. These designs have become the hallmark of Pendleton. Today the company produces not only blankets, but also throws, quilts, covers, and a wide range of women’s and men’s jackets, coats, wool shirts and sweaters.
This twin pack is presented in two colourful Pendleton pattern boxes and housed in a snap-close canvas pouch. Although both packs are identical in design, the suit symbols and the stylised courts are presented in similar but different colours and patterns inspired and informed by indigenous American artwork. The card backs are decorated with Pendleton’s traditional patterns. See the case►
The Second Pack
With different colours and patterns
Above: Pendleton playing cards twin-pack inspired by indigenous American artwork, USA, 2019.
By Peter Burnett
United Kingdom • Member since July 27, 2022
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.
Activity for Pendleton playing cards
Sign in to comment or save this article.
Related Articles
Grateful Dead playing cards no. 3
A pack celebrating the long strange trip it’s been.
Time Magazine
America’s classic periodical celebrates itself.
Grateful Dead – Dead in a Deck
Art, music and advertising come together in this groovy promotional deck.
Race Card
‘Race Card’ playing cards published by the Concept Card Co., New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.
Neiman Marcus playing cards
Cowboys and American Indians on a pack for Neiman Marcus, the Dallas department store.
Washington Wine
Washington Wine illustrated playing cards, USA, 2004.
Farmall playing cards
Farmall playing cards advertising International Harvester tractors, USA, c.2015.
Heisey Glass Museum
National Heisey Glass Museum playing cards featuring artistic glass tableware and figurines, USA, 20...
The Times of Kamehameha The Great
Figures from Hawaiian history and scenes of everyday life designed by Joseph Feher.
Helmsley Hotels
Publicity pack for the Harley and Helmsley Hotels, U.S.A., c.1986.
Benadryl®
Benadryl ® family fun playing cards, c.2000.
African Art
“African Art” playing cards by John J. Beckvermit III, 1994.
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.
Ian Schrager Hotels
Advertising/souvenir deck of cards associated with the Ian Schrager chain of luxury hotels.
Michie Tavern Museum
Historic Michie Tavern Museum playing cards by Brown & Bigelow.
Tales from the Stage
"Tales from the Stage" - an article about theatrical playing cards by Rod Starling
Pippoglyph
Pippoglyph Playing Cards by Ben Crenshaw © 2004
Ian Roth’s Unique playing cards
Ian Roth’s Unique playing cards
Frozen Court - The Aethiopic Rendering
A deck made specifically for Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., the first African-american college fr...
Most Popular
Our top articles from the past 60 days
