The Firebird playing cards

Yury Shakov (1937-1989) was a well-known Russian artist (living in the USA) who specialised in Palekh miniature paintings. His skill has been put to good use in this, his first venture into the field of playing-card design. The subject is Russian epic or folk tales, namely The Firebird, Tsar Saltan, Sadko, and Ruslan and Ludmila. There is enormous detail in each of the court cards, with extra decoration in two corners of every card. The Firebird appears as the central motif in the back design. The cards have gilt corners.

It is interesting to note that all four of these tales have been turned into either an opera or a ballet at some time.

In the double pack, the red-backed pack has one Joker and two extra cards with explanatory text, while the black-backed pack has two Jokers and one extra card including details about the artist. See the box►

Above: The Firebird playing cards designed by Yury Shakov. Printed by Heraclio Fournier, Vitoria, Spain, for Siamese Imports Co., Inc., Manhasset, NY, USA, 1984. 52 cards + 1 Joker + 2 extra cards, plus 52 cards + 2 Jokers + 1 extra card in a double plastic tray with a cardboard sleeve. Size: 57 x 88 mm. © 1984 Siamese Imports Co., Inc.

Yury Shakov also designed the Russian Tarot of St Petersburg – or rather most of it, as he very unfortunately died in 1989 before it had been finished. The pack (completed by another, unnamed artist) was later published by U.S. Games Systems, Inc.