Peter Burnett
- United Kingdom • Member since July 27, 2022
I graduated in Russian and East European Studies from Birmingham University in 1969. It was as an undergraduate in Moscow in 1968 that I stumbled upon my first 3 packs of “unusual” playing cards which fired my curiosity and thence my life-long interest. I began researching and collecting cards in the early 1970s, since when I’ve acquired over 3,330 packs of non-standard cards, mainly from North America, UK and Western Europe, and of course from Russia and the former communist countries.
Following my retirement from the Bodleian Library in Dec. 2007 I took up a new role as Head of Library Development at the International Network for the Availability of Scientific Publications (INASP) to support library development in low-income countries. This work necessitated regular training visits to many sub-Saharan African countries and also further afield, to Vietnam, Nepal and Bangladesh – all of which provided rich opportunities to further expand my playing card collection.
Since 2019 I’ve been working part-time in the Bodleian Library where I’ve been cataloguing the bequest of the late Donald Welsh, founder of the English Playing Card Society.
Green Hornet playing cards
Green Hornet playing cards, USA, 1966
African art playing cards
African art and symbolism on playing cards designed by John J. Beckvermit III, USA, 1994.
Night & Day playing cards
‘Night & Day’ playing cards produced by London Underground, United Kingdom
Birds playing cards
Birds playing cards illustrated by Ryuto Miyake, 2019.
Pacific Northwest native Indian masks
Pacific Northwest native Indian masks with artwork by Margaret Parrott, USA, 1992.
Death on Drugs
Death on Drugs playing cards, United States, 1985.
Death Cigarettes
‘Death Cigarettes’ anti-smoking playing cards, USA, 1985.
Lascivious playing cards
Lascivious lingerie playing cards, United Kingdom, c.2005
Youthscape playing cards
Two packs of playing cards offering emotional help and support to young people.
Icelandic picture playing cards / Islensku landslagsspilin
Icelandic picture playing cards with photography by Gudmundur Ingólfsson.
Axminster 100 playing cards
Special non-standard pack produced for Axminster Carpets Ltd.
Dada and Surrealist Art
Dada and Surrealist Art playing cards featuring artwork by Arturo Schwarz, 1998.
David Shrigley Ace playing cards
David Shrigley Ace playing cards, United Kingdom, 2014
Game Over
‘Game Over’ political playing cards from Israel, 2006.
Decadence?
“Decadence?” playing cards published by the Crafts Council, London in 1999.
Russian criminal tattoos and playing cards
Russian criminal tattoos and playing cards, United Kingdom, 2018.
Preposterous playing cards
Preposterous playing cards by Simon Drew published by British Heritage Ltd, Herts.
Wisdom of Wine
Wisdom of Wine playing cards by the English illustrator Simon Drew.
Margaret Parrott playing cards
Margaret Parrott playing cards decorated with whimsical parrots, USA, c. 1997.
Cleveland Museum of Art artists card game
Cleveland Museum of Art artists card game, USA, c.1993.
Farmall playing cards
Farmall playing cards advertising International Harvester tractors, USA, c.2015.
Oxford Gargoyles
Oxford Gargoyles souvenir playing cards published by Chris Donaghue Photography, Oxford, UK.
Soldier’s Deck of Cards
with the sub-title of “Bible reference playing cards”
EclecDeck
EclecDeck transformation playing cards created by Dave Ufford, 2013.
Guns N’ Roses Las Vegas 2012
Guns N’ Roses Las Vegas 2012 promotion playing cards produced by Gemaco, USA.
Scientific American
‘Scientific American’ playing cards depicting 19th century illustrations of inventions.
Pressers playing cards
Pressers playing cards with illustrations by Aaron Johnson printed by USPCC for Ellusionist in 2014.
Tamarind Institute stacked deck
Tamarind Institute stacked deck, USA, 2003
Texas Sesquicentennial
Texas Sesquicentennial commemoration playing cards produced by Alief Products Company in 1985.
New Orleans and Gulf souvenir
New Orleans and Gulf souvenir playing cards from c1900 reprinted for the 52 Plus Joker Convention in New Orleans, 2010.
Calliope: a Renaissance band
Facsimile of cards attributed to Hans Schäufelein (c. 1480-1540) produced by ‘Calliope’, a New York City-based band.
La-Tee-Da transformation playing cards
Facsimile edition of ‘La-Tee-Da’ transformation playing cards, originally made in 1865 by Dean & Son of London, republished by F.G. & Co. in 2004.
Orange: Great Value, Free Rewards
“Orange: Great Value, Free Rewards” promotional playing cards published by Orange UK.
Packs of Prizes
‘Packs of Prizes’ playing cards advertising Neosorexa pest control products.
Eurocell® playing cards
Promotional playing cards produced by Eurocell® (UPVC window, door, conservatory and roofline systems), United Kingdom.
Buses playing cards
Playing cards for bus lovers produced by Collectable Cards Limited & Ian Allan Publishing Ltd.
Wrocław
Wrocław souvenir playing cards designed by Katarzyna Tomala, 2011.
EU52 Deck of Cards
“EU52 Deck of Cards“ Eurosceptic political playing cards published by 52 Jokers Ltd, United Kingdom, 2015.
Take Control : Drugs
Take Control : Drug advice playing cards produced by Safer Publications, United Kingdom, 2007.
Pips in Pictures
‘Pips in Pictures’ imaginatively transformed playing cards by Jennifer Gaudion, 2001.
Pips in Proverbs
Wonderful ‘Pips in Proverbs’ playing cards created by Jennifer Gaudion, United Kingdom, 2009.
A Bouquet of Pheasants
A Bouquet of Pheasants playing cards produced by Jennifer Gaudion, United Kingdom, 2019.
James Purdey Signature playing cards
James Purdey & Sons is a long-established gun manufacturer founded in 1814 in London.
Hackett Magical Christmas Gift Guide playing cards
Hackett Magical Christmas Gift Guide playing cards, United Kingdom, 2017.
Tea & Coffee Lovers playing cards
Tea & Coffee Lovers playing cards produced by Cultzilla.
Brexit Most Wanted
‘Brexit Most Wanted’ playing cards, United Kingdom, 2019.
World of the New Russians
‘World of the New Russians’ (Mir novykh russkikh) satirical playing cards, 2002.
Covid-19 playing cards
Covid-19 playing cards designed by Stacey Kelly, United Kingdom, 2020.
C-Arts
Collective Arts pack designed by sixty-three collaborating artists, illustrators and designers, Russia, 2003.
Ministry of Emergency Situations
Emergency response playing cards published by the Kombinat Tsvetnoi Pechati (Colour Printing Combine), St Petersburg, 2002.
Castle Rock Club
Castle Rock Club playing cards featuring Russian rock stars and musicians, c. 2000.