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308 Articles

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.

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2002 Esquire Magazine

Esquire Magazine

Promotional deck produced by the British gentleman’s magazine “Esquire” c.2002.

1967 Shakespeare by Piatnik

Shakespeare by Piatnik

‘Shakespeare’ playing cards by Piatnik designed by the British actor Donald Burton.

SpongeBob SquarePants

SpongeBob SquarePants cartoon playing cards featuring SpongeBob and Patrick the star fish

2005 Guns & Gadgets 007

Guns & Gadgets 007

“007 Guns & Gadgets” themed playing cards printed by Carta Mundi, 2005.

2006 Lingo Pix

Lingo Pix

Lingo Pix Tourist Picture Cards by TM Cards, India, 2006

2003 The Simpsons™

The Simpsons™

The official ‘Simpsons’ playing cards produced by Winning Moves Games, 2003.

2002 Lonely Planet

Lonely Planet

Lonely Planet Playing Cards feature amazing images from all over the globe.

2014 Disney Princess

Disney Princess

Disney Princess lenticular deck. Each card has two images, one when viewed straight on, and another when viewed from a side angle; both slightly 3D

2004 Monsters

Monsters

A collective of artists known as Monster Illustration produced a deck entitled “Monsters” in 2004.

2005 Superman

Superman

Superman World Hero™ playing cards made in Belgium by Carta Mundi

2012 Bicycle Butterfly

Bicycle Butterfly

Bicycle Butterfly playing cards from RSVP Magic with artwork by ‘Lotrék’ and printed by USPCC, 2012.

Adventure Time

‘Adventure Time’ cult sci-fi playing cards published by Forbidden Planet.

2000 Gordon’s Gin

Gordon’s Gin

Gordon’s Gin branded playing cards themed with limes, lemons and ice cubes, 2000.

1990 Theakston Brewery

Theakston Brewery

Theakston Brewery advertising playing cards depicting old brewing traditions, tools and skills, designed in the style of early 18th century cards.

1978 The Muppet Show

The Muppet Show

“The Muppet Show” playing cards made by ASS in 1978.

2013 Hello Kitty

Hello Kitty

“Hello Kitty” playing cards published by Sanrio, manufactured in China, 2013.

Paulson

‘Paulson’ playing cards produced by Gaming Partners International, manufactured in Mexico, for Hooters Casino Hotel, Las Vegas

1975 France Royale Bridge

France Royale Bridge

“France Royale” Bridge playing cards by Willy Mayrl depict historical characters from France’s royal past.

1988 Noah’s Deck

Noah’s Deck

“Noah’s Deck” designed by Ljiljana Rylands.

1994 Historical Characters

Historical Characters

“Historical Characters” playing cards printed by Waddington’s for Thermawear Ltd, 1994.

1793 Gayant, 1793

Gayant, 1793

French Revolution playing cards published by Gayant in Paris, 1793.

1995 Legendary Harley-Davidson

Legendary Harley-Davidson

Legendary Harley-Davidson Playing Cards, c.1995.

1960 Shipping

Shipping

A survey of modern Shipping advertising playing cards

2011 Ridley’s Magic Trick Cards

Ridley’s Magic Trick Cards

Ridley’s Magic Trick Cards, 2011.

1963 Cheers & Tears

Cheers & Tears

Cheers & Tears by John Waddington Ltd, 1963.

Cartes à Jouer Héron

Promotional decks by Héron.

1940 Remembrance

Remembrance

“Remembrance” playing cards, courtesy of the American Legion, manufactured by Brown & Bigelow, c.1940.

Catel & Farcy

Catel & Farcy (Paris).

Casino No.240

Piatnik-Ritter No.240 - Obchodní Tiskárny Casino No.240.

1945 Michie Tavern Museum

Michie Tavern Museum

Historic Michie Tavern Museum playing cards by Brown & Bigelow.

Little Britain

“Little Britain” fan deck published by the BBC in 2005.

Tax Payers’ Alliance

The Tax Payers’ Alliance Political Trumps was first produced in 2007.

1970 Diamond Playing Card (DPC Ltd)

Diamond Playing Card (DPC Ltd)

Diamond Playing Card (DPC Ltd).

David Roberts

“David Robert” playing cards with artwork after Roberts’ Sketches in Egypt and Nubia.

1999 Mad Jack Miracle Pack

Mad Jack Miracle Pack

Mad Jack Miracle Pack by Chu’s Magic (Tobar) 1999.

1983 Polit-Poker 1984

Polit-Poker 1984

Caricatures of famous world leaders by the German caricaturist known as Bubec.

2014 Perthshire Playing Cards

Perthshire Playing Cards

Perthshire Playing Cards with photography by Duncan McEwan, 2014.

1962 Artex No.111

Artex No.111

No.111 by Artex is a copy of Waddingtons standard designs, c1962.

Parksons

Parker & Sons was launched in 1955 by Mr. Parker

1950 Fair Play

Fair Play

Fair Play budget brand by Piatnik first appeared c.1950 before disappearing in c.1990.

Monic

‘Monic’ brand playing cards, c.1930s

Munteres Mogeln

Munteres Mogeln (Cheerful Cheating) in-flight card game for Lufthansa.

1933 Hundertjahrkarte

Hundertjahrkarte

A new ‘medieval look’ is intended to suggest the power and virtue of the German character.

2004 Card Games for Kids

Card Games for Kids

Card Games for Kids by Hamlyn 2004.

2016 Paw Patrol

Paw Patrol

Paw Patrol Jumbo Playing Cards by Cardinal 2016.

2010 Family Guy

Family Guy

Family Guy merchandise deck licensed and copyright by Fox 2010.

2002 Grand Prix Champions

Grand Prix Champions

“Grand Prix Champions” printed by Offason.

1997 National Trust Properties

National Trust Properties

National Trust Properties Pack, c.1997.

2001 Advertising deck for Carta Mundi

Advertising deck for Carta Mundi

Advertising deck for Carta Mundi produced by Carta Mundi, 2001

1999 Language of Flowers

Language of Flowers

Language of Flowers by Past Times, c.1999.

1999 Yowie

Yowie

Yowie Game Cards, a promotional item supplied by Cadbury Ltd and published by Kidcorp, c.1999.