Sea-Dog playing cards

Published May 09, 2025 Updated May 09, 2025

Ships’ prows, figureheads and signal flags promoting Sea-Dog Line marine hardware.

1996 USAShippingC. MunfordSea-Dog Corporation

Figureheads are a carved representation of the name or the spirit of the ship in question, in the form of people, beasts or mythological figures. Twelve of them, illustrated by C. Munford, are depicted on the court cards in this all-plastic pack. A different style or period has been adopted for each suit, e.g., mythological (H), 19th century North American (S). On the aces are masts and signal flags including a crow’s nest on the Ace of Clubs. One of the Jokers features a booted, skeletal figure, while a pirate inspecting a chest full of hardware can be found on the other. The same pirate appears on the reverse as part of a detailed and colourful back design with a view of a ship’s quarter gallery.

Sea-Dog playing cards illustrated by C. Munford, published by Sea-Dog Corporation, Everett, WA, USA, 1996 Sea-Dog playing cards illustrated by C. Munford, published by Sea-Dog Corporation, Everett, WA, USA, 1996 Sea-Dog playing cards illustrated by C. Munford, published by Sea-Dog Corporation, Everett, WA, USA, 1996

Above: Sea-Dog playing cards illustrated by C. Munford, published by Sea-Dog Corporation, Everett, WA, USA, 1996. 52 cards + 2 Jokers in clear plastic box. Size: 58 x 89.5 mm. Printed in China.

Sea-Dog Corporation is based in Everett, Washington state, and is a manufacturer and supplier of marine hardware and boat parts. All original artistic design elements of entire package are copyright 1996 by Sea-Dog Corporation.

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By Roddy Somerville

France • Member since May 31, 2022 • Contact

Roddy started collecting stamps on his 8th birthday. In 1977 he joined the newly formed playing-card department at Stanley Gibbons in London before setting up his own business in Edinburgh four years later. His collecting interests include playing cards, postcards, stamps (especially playing cards on stamps) and sugar wrappers. He is a Past President of the Scottish Philatelic Society, a former Chairman of the IPCS, a Past Master of the Worshipful Company of Makers of Playing Cards and Curator of the WCMPC’s collection of playing cards. He lives near Toulouse in France.

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