Nine Lives Playing Cards

Published July 30, 2016 Updated August 03, 2022

Nine Lives Playing Cards designed by Annette Abolins, 2016

2016 Australia EPCC Annette Abolins Art & Design Courts Symbols

After creating the artwork for the Nine Lives Tarot, Annette Abolins was further inspired to combine the symbolism of playing cards and tarot. Nine Lives Playing Cards features the Kings, Queens and Knights from Nine Lives Tarot, redrawn and clothed to match their corresponding suit sign and with additional details in the artwork. The resultant deck was winner of the PCF Design Competition, printed by EPCC and launched in June 2016. The four aces have been designed to incorporate symbolism derived from the tarot deck. See: www.ninelivestarot.com.au

Nine Lives Playing Cards designed by Annette Abolins, 2016 Nine Lives Playing Cards designed by Annette Abolins, 2016 Nine Lives Playing Cards designed by Annette Abolins, 2016

Above: Nine Lives Playing Cards designed by Annette Abolins, printed by EPCC, 2016. The deck features 52 cards, borderless courts, 2 individual jokers in a tuck box.

avatar
1,481 Articles

By Simon Wintle

Member since February 01, 1996

I am the founder of The World of Playing Cards (est. 1996), a website dedicated to the history, artistry and cultural significance of playing cards and tarot. Over the years I have researched various areas of the subject, acquired and traded collections and contributed as a committee member of the IPCS and graphics editor of The Playing-Card journal. Having lived in Chile, England, Wales, and now Spain, these experiences have shaped my work and passion for playing cards. Amongst my achievements is producing a limited-edition replica of a 17th-century English pack using woodblocks and stencils—a labour of love. Today, the World of Playing Cards is a global collaborative project, with my son Adam serving as the technical driving force behind its development. His innovative efforts have helped shape the site into the thriving hub it is today. You are warmly invited to become a contributor and share your enthusiasm.

Related Articles

1903 Zürcher Festspiel 1903

Zürcher Festspiel 1903

Swiss-suited pack designed by Robert Hardmeyer featuring figures from art and politics.

2015 Never Mind the Belote

Never Mind the Belote

Limited edition Belote pack with designs by a collective of 24 street artists.

2022 Playing card designs by Franz Exler

Playing card designs by Franz Exler

Reconstruction of playing cards from the original 1903 designs.

2024 MITSCHKAtzen

MITSCHKAtzen

Clever cat designs by the Austrian artist and illustrator Willi Mitschka.

1989 22 Pittori in 22 Arcani

22 Pittori in 22 Arcani

Collaborative Tarot with contributions from 22 different Italian artists including Menegazzi and Tav...

1905 Whist by Ditha Moser

Whist by Ditha Moser

Ditha Moser created this minimalist Whist deck in 1905, in the style of the Vienna Secession art mov...

2018 Keith Haring playing cards

Keith Haring playing cards

Energetic graffiti images by the American artist Keith Haring.

1983 Carte di Natale

Carte di Natale

Designed by Pier Canosa as a Christmas pack for the Cortina Art Gallery in Milan.

2024 Queen of Arts

Queen of Arts

A wide variety of women artists celebrated on cards with illustrations by Laura Callaghan.

2015 Fredericks & Mae playing cards

Fredericks & Mae playing cards

A rainbow pack from the design team of Fredericks & Mae and Benjamin English.

1798 Pam is the Knave of Clubs

Pam is the Knave of Clubs

Playing cards as metaphors in 18th century art - from fate, chance and social hierarchy t...

1990 Leadmill playing cards

Leadmill playing cards

Promotional pack for an arts centre in Sheffield with designs by Martin F. Bedford.

2018 Santo Mexico playing cards

Santo Mexico playing cards

Santo Mexico playing cards designed by Cédric Volon with Mexico-associated symbols.

2022 Pride playing cards

Pride playing cards

Pride playing cards designed by Phil Constantinesco

2010 Typographic Playing Cards

Typographic Playing Cards

Typographic Playing Cards designed by Jim Sutherland, c.2010.

2022 Damn! Fools by Moon

Damn! Fools by Moon

Damn! Fools playing cards designed by Leo Scherfig, 2022.