Stacked Deck
“Stacked Deck” business caricature playing cards, USA, c. 2003.
This undated pack (probably c. 2001-2004) features a caricature of a business leader on each card, along with a brief description of who the person is. The extra card that accompanies the deck begins: “For far too long, America’s biggest corporate baddies have been stacking the deck in their favor – at the expense of their employees, customers and shareholders. So we’ve put together The Stacked Deck, a quality playing card set that enshrines these fine professionals in the annals of corporate history.” There is reference to a website (www.thestackeddeck.com – no longer accessible) and a telephone number with area code 404 (i.e. Atlanta, Georgia). The deck has 52 cards, plus a card with the “back” design on both sides, plus the extra card noted above. There are 2 wild jokers from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
Above: “Stacked Deck” business caricature playing cards, USA, c.2003.
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 Stacked Deck
Sign in to comment or save this article.
Related Articles
Le Ore playing cards
Caricatures of famous personalities from the late 1970s for the Italian magazine Le Ore.
Postabank 3
Caricatures of German personalities on a promotional pack for a Hungarian commercial bank.
Not the Iraqi Most Wanted playing cards
Fifty-five Irish heroes and villains, some ancient but mostly modern.
Know your deplorables
Photographs of political and media figures associated with the Presidency of Donald Trump (2017-2021...
El Jueves playing cards
Caricatures of 52 famous Spaniards for the satirical magazine “El Jueves”.
Political Players
Caricatures by Garth Stackhouse of American politicians involved in the 1996 presidential campaign.
Hooray for Hollywood
‘Hooray for Hollywood’ movie star playing cards produced by Parody Productions, USA, 2006.
World’s Most Wanted Criminals
“World’s Most Wanted Criminals” playing cards published by the World Without Criminals Organization,...
America’s Most Wanted
“America’s Most Wanted” playing cards based on the anti-crime reality TV show. 2003.
The Bush House of Cards
“The Bush House of Cards” with artwork by John G. Doherty, 2004.
War Profiteers playing cards
“War Profiteers” playing cards, USA, c. 2004.
Try’em playing cards
Try’em: the U.S. Regime Change, or “52 Most Wanted Criminals” c. 2003.
Wall Street Most Wanted
“Wall Street Most Wanted” playing cards, USA, 2003.
Fundacja Polsat Dzieciom
Set of caricatures and cartoons in aid of a Polish children’s charity. c.2000.
Sherlock Holmes by Jeff Decker
Sherlock Holmes deck with caricatures by Jeff Decker published by Gemaco Playing Card Co. 1989.
La Mariée du Mardi-Gras
La Mariée du Mardi-Gras, published by Jeux et Jouets Français. Paris, early 1900s.
Klutz Card Deck
Klutz Card Deck with comic courts.
Bicycle Emotions
Bicycle Emotions playing cards with custom emotions on the courts to help you bluff at cards, 2013. ...
Transformation of Playing Cards
The best-known fantasy playing cards are Transformation cards, in which figurative scenes are drawn ...
History of the War playing cards
“History of the War” playing cards with caricatures of Winston Churchill, Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stali...
Most Popular
Our top articles from the past 60 days
