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.
Treasures of the Hermitage / Shedevry Ermitazha
‘Treasures of the Hermitage Museum’ souvenir playing cards (‘Shedevry Ermitazha’), Russia.
Island 2000 Trust
“Island 2000 Trust” sustainability project playing cards, Isle of Wight, United Kingdom, c. 2005.
Trading Mart
‘Trading Mart’ playing cards published by RusJoker, St Petersburg, 2005.
The Winning Hand
The Winning Hand playing cards with artwork from multiple artists, United Kingdom, 1993.
Meantime brewery
‘Meantime’ craft brewery playing cards, United Kingdom, c. 2000.
PBR (Professional Bull Riders) playing cards
PBR (Professional Bull Riders) licensed playing cards, USA, 2005
Artball playing cards
Artball playing cards created by Don Celender, USA, 1972.
Aces Playing Cards (2nd edition)
‘Aces Playing Cards’ collaborative art deck published by Zeixs, Cologne (2nd edition).
SI Units Revision playing cards
SI Units revision playing cards, United Kingdom.
USA Golf: places to play
USA golf playing cards showing the best golf courses in the USA.
Hobby horse playing cards
Hobby horse playing cards produced by Michael Evans in a limited edition of 350 packs, 1986.
Vintage skyscraper playing cards
Vintage skyscraper playing cards published by Inkstone Design, Inc., 2005.
Sushi playing cards
Sushi playing cards illustrating different types and styles of sushi, USA, 2004.
Key West and the Florida Keys
Key West and the Florida Keys playing cards with photography by Werner J. Bertsch and Larry Lipsky.
Vanity Fair 1868-1914
Vanity Fair 1868-1914 playing cards published by Billy Bembo, United Kingdom, 1995.
The Deck
The Deck semi-transformation playing cards, USA, 1983.
Adventure Fours
Adventure Fours playing cards with differently coloured suit symbols, USA 1977
Lifesaving Earthquake Safety Tips
54 Lifesaving earthquake safety tips playing cards produced by the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, USA, 2005.
Jack Daniel’s Playing Cards
Jack Daniel’s™ Old Nº7 Gentlemen’s playing cards produced by Hoyle Products, USA, 1994.
Coolidge playing cards
Coolidge playing cards featuring dogs playing poker, Aquarius, USA, 2008.
Knot playing cards
Knot playing cards intended to teach a variety of useful and interesting knots, USA, 2000.
Heisey Glass Museum
National Heisey Glass Museum playing cards featuring artistic glass tableware and figurines, USA, 2006.
Cards Eh!
“Cards Eh!” playing cards with general information about Canada produced by JK Productions of Richmond, British Columbia in 2002.
Get Bear Smart
“Get Bear Smart” playing cards published by the Get Bear Smart Society, Canada, 2005.
Love is a smoke
‘Love is a smoke’ (Classic edition) fantasy playing cards produced by Passione, Italy, 2015.
Zamki Polski
Zamki Polski souvenir playing cards with 54 drawings of Polish castles.
Charta Bellica
“Charta Bellica” playing cards produced by Piatnik, Budapest in 2009.
IBUSZ folklore playing cards
Hungarian folklore pack produced by IBUSZ travel agency, c. 1965.
Interhotel playing cards
Interhotel playing cards printed by Obchodni Tiskárny (OTK), Prague, and published by the Interhotel chain in 1972.
Rybářské karty
Fishing-themed playing cards with artwork by Jan Hora, Czech Republic, 2005.
Napoleonské karty
“Napoleonské karty” from the Czech Republic portraying monarchs and emperors.
Carte Méthodique
Reproduction of a French pack by François Silvestre intended to teach heraldry, produced in Paris in 1712.
Spielkarten in Bromsilber-Photographie
“Spielkarten in Bromsilber-Photographie” facsimile edition by Vito Arienti of Edizioni del Solleone, Italy, 1983.
Sailor Jerry Playing Cards
“Sailor Jerry” tattoo flash playing cards, USA.
Bible playing cards featuring the life of Jesus
Bible playing cards featuring the life of Jesus, USA, 2008.
Stonerware playing cards
Stonerware playing cards featuring cannabis smoking paraphernalia, USA.
Romney Presidential playing cards, 2012
Romney Presidential playing cards, USA, 2012
Politically WILD Barack Obama
Politically WILD Barack Obama playing cards, USA, 2008.
Obama Presidential playing cards, 2012
Obama Presidential re-election playing cards published by Parody Productions LLC of Cincinnati, Ohio, 2012.
Political playing cards (2017)
Political playing cards by the British cartoonist Oliver Preston, United Kingdom, 2017.
Political playing cards (2015)
Political playing cards produced by Oliver Preston at the time of the 2015 UK Parliamentary election.
Giochi di Corte
“Giochi di Corte” designed by Vito Thümmel and published by Cambissa of Trieste in 1991.
Panorama playing cards
Panorama playing cards included with a weekly news magazine published in Milan, Italy, c. 1979.
The Circus
“The Circus” playing cards with artwork by Max Dissar and Rita Rielle, published by Masenghini, Bergamo, c.1980.
Rudy Presidential playing cards
Rudy Giuliani 2008 Presidential playing cards designed by Corey Ward.
And Marriage For All
“And Marriage For All” playing cards promoting equal marriage rights for same-sex couples.
California Total Recall Playing Cards
California Total Recall Playing Cards / Hasta La Vista, Davis!, USA, 2003.
Texas Democrats Missing in Action
“Texas Democrats Missing in Action” playing cards published by Bernsen Consulting, Austin, Texas, 2003.
Rasta playing cards
Rasta playing cards celebrating the Rastafari religion.
Baraja Cristóbal Colón
“Baraja Cristóbal Colón” commemorating the 500th anniversary of the death of Christopher Columbus.
Baraja El Quijote
Baraja El Quijote, facsimile of original deck designed by E. Pastor, reprinted by Naipes Heraclio Fournier, Spain, 1981.