Matt Probert
- United Kingdom • Member since March 02, 2012
I have adored playing cards since before I was seven years old, and was brought up on packs of Waddington's No 1. As a child I was fascinated by the pictures of the court cards.
Over the next fifty years I was seduced by the artwork in Piatnik's packs and became a collector of playing cards.
Seeking more information about various unidentified packs I discovered the World of Playing Cards website and became an enthusiastic contributor researching and documenting different packs of cards.
I describe my self as a playing card archaeologist, using detective work to identify and date obscure packs of cards discovered in old houses, flea markets and car boot sales.
Ye Witches’ Fortune Cards
Review of the 2019 edition Ye Witches Fortune Cards No 62
Carte da Gioco Toscana
Carte da Gioco Toscana souvenir deck, 2002.
Diaoyu Poker 8068
8068 by Diaoyu Poker (China) 2019.
Crocheter’s Playing Cards
Crocheter’s playing cards sent to subscribers of the Crochet Society box, 2021.
Gulliver’s Travels
Gulliver’s Travels card game no.293 published by Piatnik, c.1950.
Greenpeace Playing Cards
Campaign deck for Greenpeace with drawings of penguins, seals, whales and dolphins.
My Word
My Word “The last word in card games” designed by Michael Kindred and Malcolm Smith, published in 1980 by Waddingtons.
Qantas
Qantas Airways Limited is the flag carrier of Australia and is the world's third-oldest airline still in operation, having been founded in November 1920.
A Case Study
Case Study: using detective work to identify and date a pack discovered in charity shop.
Leather Card Case Patent Application
In 1932, a patent was granted to Colin Hart and George Franklin for a leather case in the form of a book cover for playing cards.
Military Pin Up
Military Pin Up created by Sviatoslay Pashchuk (Ukraine) 2019.
Bicycle Steampunk
Bicycle Steampunk playing cards with Gothic artwork by Anne Stokes, 2015.
World of Harry Potter
World of Harry Potter playing cards produced by Winning Moves under Waddingtons Number 1 brand, 2019.
Final Fantasy VII
Final Fantasy VII is a role-playing video game.
Casais Portugueses
Matching game by Majora, Lisbon, c.1970, featuring figures in national dress from Portuguese provinces and colonies
Carousel Playing Cards
Carousel Playing Cards commissioned by Tesco stores, 2019.
Bicycle Knights
Bicycle Knights playing cards designed by Sam Hayles in 2018.
Period Pieces
National Trust Period Pieces Antiques Game produced in 1976 by Dinosaur Publications.
Crown the Queen
Crown the Queen card game invented by Elaine Burton, c.1953.
Souvenir from Zakynthos
Souvenir from Zakynthos by Euro Card.
Gods of Egypt
Gods of Egypt playing cards dedicated to the culture of Ancient Egypt.
Bicycle 808 Bourbon
Bicycle 808 Bourbon themed deck by US Playing Card Company 2017.
National Geographic Nature
National Geographic Nature playing cards, 2006.
Tease Me
‘Tease Me’ 1960s glamour pack.
Souvenir of Norway
Souvenir of Norway deck.
Klutz Card Deck
Klutz Card Deck with comic courts.
Woman’s Hour
The Woman’s Hour playing cards published by David Westnedge, 1996.
Bicycle Civil War Deck
The Civil War Deck designed by Jackson Robinson, 2017.
Bicycle Emotions
Bicycle Emotions playing cards with custom emotions on the courts to help you bluff at cards, 2013.
Alphabetti Spaghetti
Alphabetti Spaghetti Happy Families game for Crosse & Blackwell c.1978.
Age of Dragons
Age of Dragons by Anne Stokes, 2017.
Anne Stokes Collection
Anne Stokes Collection playing cards, 2010.
Piwiarnia Pub in Warsaw
Advertising Deck for the Piwiarnia Pub in Warsaw.
The Deck of Cards
The Deck of Cards by Andrew Jones Art, 1979.
Les Géants d’un Mythe
Les Géants d'un Mythe created by François Poulain and manufactured by Grimaud, 1983.
I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter!
I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter! promotional playing cards, 1997.
Hendrick’s Gin
Nice advertising deck for Hendrick’s Gin, c.2015.
Caesars Palace®
‘Aristocrat’ Casino Cards with special courts for Caesars Palace® by USPCC 2006.
Tyrolean Playing Cards
Facsimile of patriotic 1878 Tyrolean playing cards published by Piatnik in 1992.
Harry Potter & the Goblet of Fire
Harry Potter & the Goblet of Fire, 2005.
New Zealand Souvenir
Souvenir from New Zealand by Croxley (John Dickinson) c.1950.
Billabong playing cards
Billabong Dual Deck by Hudson Industries, 1950s.
Chinese Jokers
Chinese playing card makers have probably produced the widest variety of jokers of any single part of the world.
Ken McCarthy
An unknown deck by Ken McCarthy, c.2018.
Ocean to Ocean Souvenir of Canada, c.1905
Ocean to Ocean Souvenir of Canada by Chas Goodall & Son Ltd, c.1905.
Pooltella
Pooltella cards by John Waddington Ltd, the cards that simplify football pool forecasts, 1930s.
Characters of “The Water Margin”
Characters from the Chinese novel “The Water Margin” - 水滸撲克.
Les Grandes Figures de L’Histoire Bretonne
Les Grandes Figures de L’Histoire Bretonne
Hearts of London
Hearts of London for British Heart Foundation 1994.
Cat Chaos
‘Cat Chaos Celebrity Edition’ card game by Ginger Fox Ltd., 2017.
Roman Empire
Roman Empire playing cards designed by G. Wyatt for Green Board Game Co Ltd.,