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.
Bushy Cards
“The Bushy Cards” playing card deck published by Political Parody LLC, USA, 2005.
Kennedy Kards
‘Kennedy Kards’ playing cards with satirical portrayals of the Kennedy clan, USA, 1963
World’s Most Wanted Criminals
“World’s Most Wanted Criminals” playing cards published by the World Without Criminals Organization, USA.
America’s Most Wanted
“America’s Most Wanted” playing cards based on the anti-crime reality TV show. 2003.
Le Régime Bush
“Le Régime Bush” anti-war playing cards designed by Thierry Meyssan, France, 2003.
Regime Change Begins at Home
“Regime Change Begins at Home” playing cards designed by Noel Douglas, c. 2003.
Stacked Deck
“Stacked Deck” business caricature playing cards, USA, c. 2003.
Operation Hidden Agenda
“Operation Hidden Agenda” playing cards designed by Kathy Eder, USA, 2003.
Operation Iraqi Freedom playing cards
Operation Iraqi Freedom: U.S. Military heroes playing cards, 2003.
The Bush House of Cards
“The Bush House of Cards” with artwork by John G. Doherty, 2004.
Liberated: America's Most Unwanted
“Liberated: America's Most Unwanted” playing cards published in support of the Iraqi War, c.2003.
War Profiteers playing cards
“War Profiteers” playing cards, USA, c. 2004.
United Nations of Weasels
“United Nations of Weasels” anti-war political playing cards, USA, 2003.
Try’em playing cards
Try’em: the U.S. Regime Change, or “52 Most Wanted Criminals” c. 2003.
War Party playing cards
War Party playing cards, in opposition to the Iraq War, USA, 2003.
Republican Chickenhawks of America
“Republican Chickenhawks of America” playing cards by Jerry A. Vasilatos, USA, 2003.
Iraqi Most Wanted Playing Cards
Playing cards used to help troops identify the most-wanted members of Saddam Hussein's government. 2003.
Agatha Christie Playing Cards
Agatha Christie playing cards produced by Planet Three Collection, United Kingdom, c. 2004.
Wall Street Most Wanted
“Wall Street Most Wanted” playing cards, USA, 2003.
Library Lovers
Library Lovers playing cards published by Word Nerd Games, 2016.
Sixty Penguin Years Playing Cards
In celebration of 60 years of publishing Penguin Books Ltd, 1995.
Goldfish
Playing cards advertising the Goldfish credit card brand, c.1996.
The Deck of Cards
‘The Deck of Cards ’ by Ben Yates, United Kingdom, 2011.
Sky News Politipack
Cartoons of British political figures on playing cards published to promote Sky News' coverage of Election Night 2005.
Coffinnails: Smoking Kills
“Coffinnails: Smoking Kills” playing cards highlighting the impact smoking has on life and health, 2004.
52 ways to stop smoking
“52 ways to stop smoking”, offering positive help for anyone who wants to give up smoking.
The Green Pack: Salisbury Plain
The Green Pack: Salisbury Plain, United Kingdom, 2004.
House of Commons Playing Cards
House of Commons playing cards designed to serve as a civic guide to the UK Parliament.
Alice in Wonderland by Prospero Art
Alice in Wonderland deck published by Prospero Art, USA, 2008.
Alice in Wonderland (Walt Disney Pictures version)
Alice in Wonderland playing cards produced in association with the film Alice in Wonderland by Walt Disney Pictures in 2010.
Alice in Wonderland (Macmillan version)
Playing cards devoted to Lewis Carroll’s Alice books, published by Macmillan in 2016.
Alice in Wonderland by Dominic Murphy
Alice in Wonderland playing cards produced by Dominic Murphy.
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland illustrated by Helen Oxenbury, 1999.
Alice in Wonderland by Cultzilla
Alice in Wonderland 'Curious' playing cards by Cultzilla.
Schott's sporting gaming & idling miscellany
Schott's sporting gaming & idling miscellany, United Kingdom, 2004.
Dickens Character Collection
Dickens Character Collection published for a London Casino as a promotional gift.
Liberal Democrats Playing Cards
Liberal Democrat MPs shown on playing cards at the time of the annual Party Conference in September 2003.
Jonathan Swift and his World
“Jonathan Swift and his World” playing cards designed by Dan Sperrin and produced by David Westnedge Ltd. 2017.
Even More Trial and Error
“Even More Trial and Error” produced by the Worshipful Company of Makers of Playing Cards, United Kingdom, 2016.
Trial and Error
Trial and Error produced by Lance Whitehouse, Past Master of the Worshipful Company of Makers of Playing Cards, 2015
Anti-Fascist cards, 1943
Satirical Anti-Fascist cards designed in 1943 by Ivan Ivanovich Kharkevich.
Russian Playing Cards
Playing cards were known in Muscovy as early as the last quarter of the sixteenth century.
Souvenir of Panama
A photographic souvenir of Panama consisting of 52 cards and 2 jokers.
Belarus Souvenir Cards
Souvenir cards, Belarus, 1993
GAI GIBDD
The State Automobile Inspection of Russian Federal Road Safety Service.
Petrovskie
Petrovskie, politicheskie karty Rossii (Russian political cards), 1997.
Moscow Poker
“Moscow” - from the Soviet series produced by Sprint, Ivanovo, 2013.
Detskie
‘Detskie’ children’s cards produced in Russia, 2001.
Soldaty Udachi
“Soldaty Udachi” (Soldiers of Fortune) Army and Police humour playing cards, Russia, 2001.
Karty Derzhavnye
Karty Derzhavnye (Sovereign cards) with artwork by S. Zaitsev, Russia, 1997.
Karty Lyubvi
Karty lyubvi Slavyanskie (Slavonic love cards) and Karty lyubvi Starinnye (Ancient love cards).