Archives
2013 • March
Austrian Lloyd Steamship Company
Possibly one of the most beautiful decks produced for commercial purposes, this was printed by Modiano for the Austrian Lloyd Steamship Company of Trieste in c.1895
Japanesque
Goodall’s “Japanesque” brand was used for stationery products since around 1880 but these playing cards were added to the range in around 1900.
Kismet Temple
The deck was made to honour Conrad V. Dykeman as Imperial Potentate of the Kismet Temple of the Ancient Arab Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, a spin off of the Free and Accepted Masons.
Pyramid P.C.C.
The company introduced a number of standard brands until it was absorbed into U.S.P.C.C. and its affiliates, and finally dissolved in 1933.
Submarine Cards
Lighting in submarines involved wearing red goggles to preserve night vision for viewing instrument panels. The goggles solved one problem but created another: the red suits on playing cards were not visible through the red goggles.
Luxus Skatkarten
The cards are from a facsimile edition published by F. X. Schmid, Munich, in 1981. The artist is unknown, but the artwork follows the tradition of German playing card design and conveys a vivid sense of emotion, sensuality and vitality.
WW1 Commemorative
In 1919 Brepols commemorated the victories of World War I with two new packs featuring portraits of Allied leaders on the court cards and famous battle scenes on the Aces.
Kimberley 1892
William Kimberley applied for a patent in respect of his improved playing cards in February 1892 and his application was fully accepted that year.
Kimberley’s Royal National Patriotic playing cards, c.1902
This edition has standard corner indices replacing the words King, Queen and Jack, and also contains a “Jolly Joker” depicting a lady holding an Ace of Hearts.
Bavarian Military Cards
The King of Acorns is supposed to represent Prince Otto; the King of Leaves is Maximilian II; the King of Bells is Ludwig II; the King of Hearts is Ludwig I wearing a general's uniform.
Rummy No.210
Period cartoon images from the 1930s. The Kings are in fancy dress ready to party, the Queens appear ready for socialising whilst the Jacks are already on the go.
Tourists
Imagery of slightly eccentric tourists sightseeing in Egypt, or perhaps in the Alps, appears on the back of the box, the Ace of Spades and the Joker.
Warburg Luxus Bridgekort
“Luxus Bridgekort” was specially designed by Barbara MacDonald in a vibrant Art Deco style for Warburg of Denmark in c.1930, and printed by Universal Playing Card Co. Ltd (England).
American Skat
These decks were produced in various grades for the German immigrant population and feature the German eagle and the German and American flags intertwined. There were two versions: one with German faces and one with American faces.
Matyó-Bridge No.50
The court cards in this delightful Art Deco pack represent persons in various colourfully embroidered folkloric costumes. Designed by Hungarian artist Ilona Radnainé Szöredi.
Anheuser-Busch Army & Navy
This deck is commonly known as the “Anheuser-Busch Spanish-American War deck”, issued at the end of the war.
Hokkien Four Colour Cards
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by Anthony Lee
The characters on the cards are written one way for red and yellow, and another for green and white. They are: 將 士 象 車 馬 包 兵 for white and green; 帥 仕 相 俥 傌 炮 卒 for red and yellow.
Monarch Bicycle
The company advertised themselves as “The Monarch King of all Cycles” with the lion's head motif inside a bicycle wheel.
Russell, Morgan & Co
The distinctive Ace of Spades features the Statue of the Goddess of Freedom, based on the bronze statue designed by Thomas Crawford (1814-1857) that, since 1863, has crowned the dome of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.
26th Yankee Division
“26th Yankee Division Playing Cards” was designed by Alban B. Butler, Jr and printed by the Press of the Woolly Whale, New York, in 1933.
Paramount Film Stars
Promotional playing cards for the Paramount film company with film stars on the court cards.
Capitol No.188
“Capitol No.188” was first introduced during the Russell & Morgan Printing Company era in c.1886 and carried through into the U.S.P.C.C's catalogue after 1895.
J.L. & J. Turnbull
An ‘Old Frizzle’ Ace of Spades was assigned to them in 1833. In 1853 James L. & J. Turnbull were listed as ‘Makers of Playing Cards, Pasteboard, Paper Glossers and Pressers and Drawing Board Makers.
Film Star Playing Cards
Promotional playing cards for the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film company with film stars on the court cards.
Trophy Whist
Trophy Whist No.39 playing cards published by the the United States Playing Card Co., 1895.
Taro Okamoto
The combination of shapes and colours in these playing cards creates a vibrant and eye-catching surreal effect.
Nineteenth Century Pack
A magnificent example of Goodall & Son’s range of chromolithographed Commemorative playing cards from the late nineteenth century..
Navy No.303
The second edition of 1883 has slightly larger indices and a more simplified Ace of Spades showing two sailing ships.
Merry Andrew
There are two Aces to each suit; one plain and the other with figures of a young woman and man, presumably Merry Andrew and his girl-friend.
Hard-a-Port
Tobacco insert cards were a very successful marketing innovation which started in the nineteenth century.
New Era No.46
“New Era No.46”, based around European fashions, was soon followed with “Circus No.47”, “Hustling Joe No.61” and “Ye Witches No.62”.
Anheuser-Busch
The Kings show American admirals and the Jacks have different officers at each end. The Queens are “Our Colonies”.
Army & Navy No.303
Over the years eight different Aces of Spades were used with this brand and the Joker was also modified several times.
Ye Witches’ No.62 Fortune Cards
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by Simon Wintle
Ye Witches Fortune Telling Cards published by the United States Playing Card Co., 1896. 52 cards + Joker + extra card in box.
Army No.303
The Joker is particularly persuasive, whilst the Ace of Spades has a battle scene involving artillery, with Navy ships in the distance and the statue of the goddess of Freedom in the middle.
Donkey game from Malaysia
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by Anthony Lee
“Donkey” children's card game designed and created by Ooi Yan Hee, manufactured by Hee Trading Co., Malaysia, 1984
