Wartime Playing Cards
Wartime playing cards and card games are those that were produced during times of war and were often designed with patriotic themes or propaganda messages. They were distributed to soldiers and civilians alike and served as a form of entertainment and morale booster during times of conflict. Wartime playing cards often feature images of military leaders, soldiers and patriotic symbols, such as national flags or eagles.
• See also "Most Wanted" • "Military" • "Army"
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.
Alfreds Scwedrevitz
This pack was issued during wartime, in 1936, under the name “Latvian Red Cross Cards No.7”.
Anheuser-Busch Army & Navy
This deck is commonly known as the “Anheuser-Busch Spanish-American War deck”, issued at the end of the war.
Anonymous pack of Dutch playing cards
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by Paul Symons
produced just after the end of the Second World War.
Anti-Fascist cards, 1943
Satirical Anti-Fascist cards designed in 1943 by Ivan Ivanovich Kharkevich.
Anti-Fascist Propaganda Pack for the Siege of Leningrad, 1942
In 1942 a pack of ‘anti-fascist’ playing cards was designed by Vasiliy Andrianovich Vlasov mocking the rulers of Germany and the Axis powers.
Atouts de la Vie
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by Simon Wintle
“Atouts de la Vie” wartime card game created by Madame Lucien Willemetz, c.1940.
Battles in Mexico, 1847
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by Simon Wintle
Uncut proof sheet with Mexican Battle scenes on the aces and portraits of American generals on the court cards.
Black Peter, c.1940
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by Simon Wintle
Black Peter card deck for children printed in Riga during World War II, believed to have been designed by a Latvian artist.
Chocolate playing cards with scenes from World War 1
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by Paul Symons
An extraordinary Spanish pack of chocolate advertising playing cards dating from 1920.
Churchill in WW2
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by Matt Probert
Churchill ‘Walking with Destiny’ playing cards published by the Imperial War Museum.
Civil Unrest Playing Cards
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by Adam Wintle
A deck of cards inspired by the American Civil War, featuring leaders, army generals, President Abraham Lincoln and other characters from this historical period.
Crimean War Deck
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by Simon Wintle
1854 saw the declaration of the Crimean War and this deck was published by Wüst around, or shortly after, 1856.
