Playing Cards for Consumer Advertising, Marketing & Promotion
Closely following the development of visual advertising in general, such as on labels, packaging, posters and TV commercials, advertising playing cards seek to find ways to associate products with our inner desires and longings, with our identity and who we want to be. Some packs are widely distributed as part of larger promotions, others are more exclusive. In some cases single cards are collected from inside the advertised product, thereby stimulating further sales to complete a full set.
Birkel Schwarzer Peter
The Birkel company has produced several promotional “Schwarzer Peter” packs over the years and this one is themed on the circus.
Bischofszell
Advertising pack for the food producer Bischofszell, designed by Heinz Looser-Brenner, with non-standard suits.
Black & White Whisky by Nintendo
Whisky advertising playing cards manufactured by Nintendo Playing Cards Co Ltd for Dodwell & Co., 1960s.
BMW Promo Top Trumps
BMW Promo Top Trumps produced as a promotion for the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Bodegas Trapiche
Promotional playing cards produced for Bodegas Trapiche, designed to play Quartet games by collecting a wine bottle card with four matching glasses.
Boerenbond Veevoeders
Promotional deck designed by Ray Goossens for the Boerenbond farmers’ union, c.1968.
Bofinger’s Reise-Skat
Advertising pack for a travel company with humorous illustrations of all sorts of travellers.
Branded Tarot Decks and Modern Mystic Lifestyle
Taking a closer look at the rise of media tie-in branded tarot deck and esoteric lifestyle of younger generations.
Breedon Press Ltd
Playing cards advertising Sunspel underwear printed by the Breedon Press Ltd, Nottingham, c.1950
Bridge advertising playing cards by La Cubana
Bridge advertising playing cards for Morganite Carbon, manufactured by La Cubana, S.A., Tulipan 108, Mexico 4, D.F., c.1980s.
British Airways Concorde
British Airways Concorde playing cards made in Belgium by Carta Mundi, before 2003.
Bucktrout & Co. Ltd
Half-sized cigarette playing cards published by Bucktrout & Co., Ltd (Guernsey) c.1930.
Burgdorf Abschreckhärtetechnik
Promotional pack for a German steel hardening business, with designs by Costante Costantini.
Burj Al Arab Jumeirah
Gold plated souvenir playing cards from the Burj Al Arab Jumeirah hotel in Dubai.