Back to the USSR

Published August 26, 2016 Updated July 14, 2022

Back to the USSR deck featuring communist party leaders and politicians, c.1995

1995 France Russia Grimaud Y. Nepakharev and R. Melikhov Political

“Back to the USSR” deck featuring communist party leaders and politicians designed by Y. Nepakharev and R. Melikhov, printed by Grimaud for the Russian market, c.1995. The captions on the court cards are in Russian and English; the information on the box is all in Russian.

Back to the USSR deck designed by Y. Nepakharev and R. Melikhov and printed by Grimaud, c.1995 Back to the USSR deck designed by Y. Nepakharev and R. Melikhov and printed by Grimaud, c.1995

Above: “Back to the USSR” playing cards printed in France by Grimaud, c.1995. 36 cards in box. The ace of spades has a portrait of Lenin in centre of the spade.

Box from “Back to the USSR” deck designed by Y. Nepakharev and R. Melikhov and printed by Grimaud, c.1995
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By Simon Wintle

Member since February 01, 1996

I am the founder of The World of Playing Cards (est. 1996), a website dedicated to the history, artistry and cultural significance of playing cards and tarot. Over the years I have researched various areas of the subject, acquired and traded collections and contributed as a committee member of the IPCS and graphics editor of The Playing-Card journal. Having lived in Chile, England, Wales, and now Spain, these experiences have shaped my work and passion for playing cards. Amongst my achievements is producing a limited-edition replica of a 17th-century English pack using woodblocks and stencils—a labour of love. Today, the World of Playing Cards is a global collaborative project, with my son Adam serving as the technical driving force behind its development. His innovative efforts have helped shape the site into the thriving hub it is today. You are warmly invited to become a contributor and share your enthusiasm.

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