Giffgaff
Giffgaff mobile network playing cards, 2015.
Giffgaff mobile network “Yo, Let’s Play” playing cards accompanied new SIM cards in their 2015 promotion. The courts all follow a single design for each suit, thus each Jack, Queen and King are the same, with just the indices and borders changed. Awesomely-designed! All you have to do is open your mind.



Above: Giffgaff mobile network playing cards, 2015. The pips are similarly bordered. The pack is accompanied by a Giffgaff Sim card, and an information leaflet (about activating your Sim and claiming your free £5 credit) which states "Pricing subject to change. Correct as at June 2015".

Above: detail from an uncut sheet.

A New Edition
A new promotional pack was published in late 2017 or 2018.


Above: a new promotional pack for the phone network “Giffgaff”, dating from late 2017 or 2018, but with unusual courts which have been printed to look like they have been coloured by a five year old. Unknown manufacturer.

By Matt Probert
Member since March 02, 2012
I have adored playing cards since before I was seven years old, and was brought up on packs of Waddington's No 1. As a child I was fascinated by the pictures of the court cards.
Over the next fifty years I was seduced by the artwork in Piatnik's packs and became a collector of playing cards.
Seeking more information about various unidentified packs I discovered the World of Playing Cards website and became an enthusiastic contributor researching and documenting different packs of cards.
I describe my self as a playing card archaeologist, using detective work to identify and date obscure packs of cards discovered in old houses, flea markets and car boot sales.
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