Literature and Playing Cards
Wherever there is freedom of expression books, articles and other literary sources such as adventure stories, folk tales, historical or scientific literature have all been inspiration for artists, including designers of playing cards and educational games.
Biggles
Biggles card game published by Pepys Games in 1955 based on the popular books by Capt W E Johns.
Characters from Charles Dickens
“Characters from Charles Dickens” card game published by Jaques & Son, c.1880.
Characters of “The Water Margin”
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by Matt Probert
Characters from the Chinese novel “The Water Margin” - 水滸撲克.
De La Rue Pocket Guides
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by Tony Hall
The 19th Century saw the production, by all of the major companies, of pocket guides or “mini-books” on every type of game.
Dickens Character Collection
Dickens Character Collection published for a London Casino as a promotional gift.
Dogs
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by Simon Wintle
‘Dogs’ playing cards showcases 52 canine portraits in four suits as authors, artists, musicians and film stars, illustrated by Chet Phillips, 2016
Don Quijote IV Centenario
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by Simon Wintle
Baraja IV Centenario Don Quijote is the work of artist Vicente Arnás, published by Asescoin, Madrid, 2004.
Early History of Playing Cards & Timeline
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by Simon Wintle
Out of an apparent void, a constellation of references in early literature emerge pointing to the sudden arrival of playing cards, principally in Belgium, Germany, Spain and Italy around 1370-1380. Discover the early history of playing cards in our timeline from 50AD to the 15th century.
Edgar Allan Poe Playing Cards
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by Adam Wintle
A Kickstarter campaign for a fine deck of playing cards inspired by the works of Edgar Allan Poe
Eneida
This pack was designed by Oksana Ternavska and first published in 2011 as a supplement to the book "Eneida", a poem written by Ivan Kotliarevsky in 1798.
EPCS August 1998 Newsletter Members Only
Stained Glass Windows: Lewis Carroll • Isle of Man Packs • Hand Decorated Transformation Pack • Happy Families: Cadbury MISFITZ • World Cup 1998 • New Issues: MISFITZ • Lyons Corner Houses: NIPPIES • Jovial Families: G.BROS Ltd • WG Grace Anniversary • English Standard Card Manufacturers • Nursery Rhyme Snap: Mother Goose • World of Alice: Lewis Carroll • De La Rue: Walt Disney Packs • SNAP: Geraldine Goodwin • Non Standard Pack: De La Rue Denmark 1950
EPCS February 2024 Newsletter Members Only
Lenthall's Delightful Cards • Cards supposedly by Wheeler • No, It Isn't an Early Wheeler • Chloe Campbell's Wren Cards • Speed: the Motor Cards • “Melox” Happy Families • Playing Cards for the Pegu Club • Military Card Backs • The Worshipful Company • Cards 2023-24 • The Blitz and Wartime Card Production in Britain • Henry Reason's Game of Parliament • Aesop's Fables
EPCS May 1991 Newsletter Members Only
Royal Residence: Buckingham Palace • Alf Cooke and Universal • Rupert Bear • SPELIT Lyon's Tea • Steamship SS Great Britain • 1980 & 1981 Worshipful Company Packs • CWS SNAP • Thomas De La Rue • OXO • Primrose Day • Harrods • Tonic to the Nation • The Festival of Britain 1951