Wagner’s “Ring” playing cards
Wagner’s “Ring” playing cards, with illustrations by Sir Arthur Rackham, published by Prospero Art, USA, 2010.
Wilhelm Richard Wagner (1813-1883) is best known for his four-opera cycle Der Ring des Niebelungen. This pack, published by Prospero Art in 2010, features 55 illustrations by Sir Arthur Rackham (1867-1939) depicting scenes from the operas. The pack summarises the storyline of the “Ring”, with each suit representing an opera; diamonds, Das Rheingold; spades, Die Walküre; hearts, Siegfried; and clubs, Die Götterdämmerung. Each illustration, originally created in 1911-1912, is described in the context of the relevant opera. There are two jokers, a card showing a painting of Richard Wagner by Jan Padover, and a double-sided card providing biographical information about Wagner on one side and Rackham on the other. See the information card►
Above: Wagner’s “Ring” playing cards, with illustrations by Sir Arthur Rackham, published by Prospero Art, USA, 2010.
See the box►
By Peter Burnett
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.
Trending Articles
Popular articles from the past 28 days
Related Articles
Woodblock and Stencil King of Diamonds
A limited edition art print of the King of Diamonds 1984 woodblock joker.
Woodblock and Stencil Joker
A limited edition art print of the 1984 woodblock joker.
Woodblock and Stencil Queen of Clubs
A limited edition art print of the Queen of Clubs 1984 woodblock joker.
Woodblock and Stencil Jack of Clubs
A limited edition art print of the Jack of Clubs 1984 woodblock joker.
Albano-Waite® Tarot
Recoloured version of the Rider/Waite/Smith tarot produced by Frankie Albano, 1968.
Branle playing cards
‘Branle’ playing cards inspired by a 12th-century dance, produced by Noir Arts, USA, 2015.
Umbrella Academy playing cards
Umbrella Academy playing cards created by Gerard Way and Gabriel Bá, USA, 2019.
Mardi Gras playing cards
Mardi Gras playing cards illustrated by Dave Edgerly, USA, 2015
Romeo and Juliet playing cards
Romeo and Juliet playing cards illustrated by Belgian artist Virginie Carquin 2016.
Banjo playing cards
Banjo playing cards featuring the collection of Akira Tsumura, Japan, c. 1978.
Morgan-Greer Tarot
Based on the knowledge, wisdom and interpretation of Paul Foster Case and Arthur Edward Waite.
Jane Austen playing cards
Jane Austen playing cards published by Prospero Art, USA, 2013.
75: Early American cards
An overview of some of the early cards made in the United States.
Fox Lake Playing Cards
A Magician’s Perspective.
Murphy Varnish pack
Reproduction of the 1883 Murphy Varnish transformation pack, USA, 2019
New Palladini Tarot
“The New Palladini Tarot” by David Palladini published by U.S. Games Inc., in 1996.
The Aquarian Tarot Deck
The Aquarian Tarot Deck illustrated by David Palladini, published by Morgan Press, Inc., 1970.
Pendleton playing cards
Pendleton playing cards inspired by indigenous American artwork, USA, 2019.
Aztec Codex playing cards
Aztec Codex playing cards illustrated by Emmanuel Valtierra, USA, ©2015.
Linweave Tarot
The Linweave Tarot is actually an elaborate set of paper samples from the Pulp, Paper and Board Divi...
Map of the world in full bloom
Map of the world in full bloom, USA, 2017
Know your deplorables
Photographs of political and media figures associated with the Presidency of Donald Trump (2017-2021...
Historic Early Aviation
Reproductions of cigarette cards from 1910 on the subject of the early days of aviation.
The Age of Dinosaurs playing cards
Dinosaurs from different ages and locations, with artwork by Virginijus Poshkus.
3-D Dino Cards
Lenticular images of different, unnamed dinosaurs on all-plastic cards.
Tarot of the Unknown
Inspired by the Halloween Cartoon “Over the Garden Wall”.
Dino Deck playing cards
A different dinosaur for each of the four suits, two printed in red and two in blue.
Eclipse Comic playing cards (reproduction)
Eclipse Comic playing cards is a reproduction of the first transformation pack printed in the USA in...
Old West Guns
Old West Guns playing cards containing information about firearms from the Old West, USA.
Jeu de cartes des Opéras romantiques
Costumes from four operas premiered at the Paris Opera between 1830 and 1840.
Centennial Olympic Games playing cards
Centennial Olympic Games playing cards celebrating the centenary of the modern Olympic Games, 1896-1...
Y-ME playing cards
Works by 54 American artists in aid of a breast cancer charity.
Malam playing cards
Malam playing cards created by Michael Muldoon, USA, 2015.
Netter playing cards
Anatomical playing cards published by Elsevier, USA, 2017.
Star Wars: a New Hope
‘Star Wars: a New Hope’ playing cards to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the film Star Wars, USA, ...
Dandy Rock’n Bubble
56 rock and pop stars of the 1980s, issued in Denmark with bubble gum.
American President Lines
American President Lines shipping souvenir playing cards, early to mid-1950s.
Royal Hawaiian playing cards
Royal Hawaiian playing cards published by the Royal Hawaiian Playing Card Company, Honolulu.
Official World’s Fair Souvenir, USA, 1964-6
Official souvenir pack showing 52 coloured exhibits from the New York World’s Fair, 1964-6.
Buffalo soldiers
“Buffalo soldiers” playing cards commemorating African American military men who helped change the f...
Century of Progress
‘Century of Progress’ Exposition playing cards produced by Western Playing Card Company, USA, 1933. ...
Bicycle Negro League Baseball Museum
Bicycle Negro League Baseball Museum souvenir playing cards, USA, 2012.
New York City souvenir
New York City souvenir playing cards with 53 different views of interest, USA, 1915.
Disney Villains Tarot Deck
The Disney Villains tarot deck by Insight Editions emphasises iconic villains, merging traditional t...