The Game of the Gods

Published March 14, 2025 Updated March 14, 2025

Figures and symbols from Norse mythology, designed by Barbro Gustafsson and Inga Lundström.

1991 Norway Öbergs Barbro Gustafsson Inga Lundström Myths & Legends

Norse mythology provides us with a plethora of gods and goddesses. In this pack you will find the obvious ones – Odin (KC), Thor (KD), Loki (KS), Freya (QH) – as well as some lesser-known ones. All are depicted in a somewhat primitive yet effective manner and in simple colours (red, black and gold only) by the two designers, Barbro Gustafsson and Inga Lundström. Each has an accompanying description in English, as do the aces which are used to identify the symbols that replace the pips everywhere other than in the corners of each card. These symbols represent the Midgard serpent (S), the ship of Freyr, Skidbladnir (H), the eight-legged horse of Odin, Sleipnir (C), and the hammer of Thor, Mjollnir (D). The maker’s name can be found on the Ace of Hearts. On the back, in black on gold, are an unidentified human couple (possibly Lif and Lifthrasir, the only two beings who will survive at Ragnarok, the destruction of the world) and the name of the archaeological museum in Stavanger for which this pack was made.  See the box

The Game of the Gods playing cards made by Esselte Öbergs AB, Eskilstuna, Sweden, for the Arkeologisk Museum, Stavanger, Norway, 1991 The Game of the Gods playing cards made by Esselte Öbergs AB, Eskilstuna, Sweden, for the Arkeologisk Museum, Stavanger, Norway, 1991 The Game of the Gods playing cards made by Esselte Öbergs AB, Eskilstuna, Sweden, for the Arkeologisk Museum, Stavanger, Norway, 1991

Above: The Game of the Gods playing cards made by Esselte Öbergs AB, Eskilstuna, Sweden, for the Arkeologisk Museum, Stavanger, Norway, 1991. 52 cards + 2 (identical) Jokers + 1 extra card in tuck box. Size: 56 x 86.5 mm. © Barbro Gustafsson and Inga Lundström

Another edition of this pack has all the text in Norwegian.

avatar
599 Articles

By Roddy Somerville

Member since May 31, 2022

Roddy started collecting stamps on his 8th birthday. In 1977 he joined the newly formed playing-card department at Stanley Gibbons in London before setting up his own business in Edinburgh four years later. His collecting interests include playing cards, postcards, stamps (especially playing cards on stamps) and sugar wrappers. He is a Past President of the Scottish Philatelic Society, a former Chairman of the IPCS, a Past Master of the Worshipful Company of Makers of Playing Cards and Curator of the WCMPC’s collection of playing cards. He lives near Toulouse in France.

Related Articles

1991 The Game of the Gods

The Game of the Gods

Figures and symbols from Norse mythology, designed by Barbro Gustafsson and Inga Lundström.

2022 Beowulf

Beowulf

Jackson Robinson's Beowulf playing card deck inspired by the Old English pagan poem.

1988 Il Tarocco Mitologico

Il Tarocco Mitologico

Fully pictorial Tarot designed by Amerigo Folchi with figures mainly from Greek mythology.

Heathen Divinities

Heathen Divinities

Handmade playing cards from the British Museum depicting classical Greek and Roman gods and goddesse...

1975 Hanuman and the Five Riders

Hanuman and the Five Riders

A selection cards showing characters from the 1975 Thai-Japanese film.

2018 Euskal Herriko Mitologia

Euskal Herriko Mitologia

Important figures from Basque mythology, named in four languages.

2002 Valhalla spillekort

Valhalla spillekort

Characters from the Valhalla comics, designed by Peter Madsen, as commemorated on a Danish stamp.

Calon Arang • Калон Аранг - Бали

Calon Arang • Калон Аранг - Бали

Calon Arang, a figure from 12th-century Javanese and Balinese folklore known as a witch skilled in b...

1825 Mythological tarot by Michael Schatzberger

Mythological tarot by Michael Schatzberger

Mythological tarot by Michael Schatzberger, Passau, Bavaria, early 19th century.

Mythological and Allegorical tarot

Mythological and Allegorical tarot

Mythological and Allegorical tarot produced by Peter Paul Fetscher junior, Munich.

1981 Burgdorf Abschreckhärtetechnik

Burgdorf Abschreckhärtetechnik

Promotional pack for a German steel hardening business, with designs by Costante Costantini.

2005 Tarot of the Thousand and One Nights (1001 Nights Tarot)

Tarot of the Thousand and One Nights (1001 Nights Tarot)

This tarot deck captures the idealised Eastern world's magic from the eighteenth and nineteenth cent...

1788 Jeu de Cartomancie pour l’amusement des Dames

Jeu de Cartomancie pour l’amusement des Dames

Early French Cartomancy deck "for the amusement of Ladies" but also referred to as "Jeu divinatoire ...

1644 Instructive and Educational Playing Cards

Instructive and Educational Playing Cards

Playing cards with an educational and instructive purpose first trended in mid-17th century France, ...

Possible early astrological playing cards

Possible early astrological playing cards

Two early woodcuts that I believe to be playing cards.

2020 Acelion Cyberpunk Playing Cards

Acelion Cyberpunk Playing Cards

This cyberpunk deck by Acelion combines magic and science fiction elements, inspired by Nordic mytho...