The World of Playing Cards Logo

Mao Zedong & International Friends

Published July 20, 2015 Updated June 21, 2022

Playing cards celebrating the story of the Chinese leader and statesman Chairman Mao / Mao Zedong & International Friends.

1974 China HCG Political

Mao Zedong & International Friends

Playing cards celebrating the Chinese leader and statesman Chairman Mao /Mao Zedong. Each card has a photo of Mao Zedong in a relaxed pose with notable International personalities, giving the impression that he was a friendly person. The foreign policy of the People’s Republic of China during the Maoist era attempted to present a broad united front to the world. The cards are all surrounded by a red kitschy border and four indices, with captions in Chinese and a date; the latest date is 1974. The reverse shows Mao reading a letter against a bright sun.

playing cards celebrating the story of the Chinese leader and statesman Mao Zedong

Above: playing cards celebrating the story of the Chinese leader and statesman Chairman Mao, possibly obtained from Mao's mausoleum in Beijing, published by HCG Products, c.2010. 54 cards in box.

avatar
307 Articles

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.

Related Articles

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...

1711 Dr Sacheverell

Dr Sacheverell

Dr. Henry Sacheverell's impeachment in 1710 sparked widespread public unrest and political upheaval,...

1872 Cartes politiques : Jeu d'actualité

Cartes politiques : Jeu d'actualité

Political playing cards published by Grimaud et Chartier, Paris, 1872.

1983 Politiker-Skat by Bubec

Politiker-Skat by Bubec

Caricatures of world leaders, including many German politicians, by the artist Bubec.

1983 Le Poker Politique

Le Poker Politique

French politicians and various world leaders caricatured by the German artist Bubec.

QAIPES – cartas españolas

QAIPES – cartas españolas

Spanish-suited cards made in China inscribed “QAIPES” and “BAIPES”!

2016 Líneas rojas 2016

Líneas rojas 2016

Semicaricatural images of Spanish politicians by Jordi Minguell, combined with non-standard suits. ...

1990 Postabank 1

Postabank 1

Caricatures of Hungarian politicians on a promotional pack for a commercial bank.

2004 Not the Iraqi Most Wanted playing cards

Not the Iraqi Most Wanted playing cards

Fifty-five Irish heroes and villains, some ancient but mostly modern.

1993 Le Carte di Forattini

Le Carte di Forattini

Political caricatures by Giorgio Forattini published by Arnoldo Mondadori Editore, Italy, 1993.

1977 Jeu de la V<sup>me</sup>

Jeu de la Vme

A political pack designed by Pino Zac and published in 1977 by Editions Arts et Lettres.

Storia del Fascismo - gioco di carte

Storia del Fascismo - gioco di carte

‘Storia del Fascismo’ playing cards depicting persons, symbols and artifacts associated with Italian...

1976 Le Giscarte

Le Giscarte

Le Giscarte political playing cards designed by Eddy Munerol, France, 1976.

2016 Politicards 2016 & Politikids 2016

Politicards 2016 & Politikids 2016

Politicards™ 2016 & Politikids 2016: twin decks of satirical playing cards produced by Peter Green f...

2004 K Deck

K Deck

“K Deck” political playing cards, USA, c. 2004.

2003 The Deck of Hillary

The Deck of Hillary

‘The Deck of Hillary’ with quotes and photographs of Hillary Clinton, USA, 2003.