The Neva River

Published August 29, 2016 Updated June 10, 2022

A deck designed by Victor M. Sveshnikov dedicated to the Neva river and the city of Saint Petersburg.

1992 Russia Colour Printing Plant Sveshnikov Art & Design

Neva playing cards were designed by Victor M. Sveshnikov and manufactured by the Colour Printing Plant, Saint Petersburg, to celebrate its 175th anniversary (1817-1992). The illustrations on the aces and number cards depict the river Neva, one of the largest in Europe and which flows through Saint Petersburg, with buildings and maritime items associated with the city. The court cards probably represent persons from the time of Peter the Great who founded the city in 1703. Victor M. Sveshnikov also designed Opera & Theatre playing cards (1973) and “Maya” playing cards (1975).

Deck designed by Victor M. Sveshnikov dedicated to the Neva river and the city of Saint Petersburg, 1992 Deck designed by Victor M. Sveshnikov dedicated to the Neva river and the city of Saint Petersburg, 1992 Deck designed by Victor M. Sveshnikov dedicated to the Neva river and the city of Saint Petersburg, 1992 Deck designed by Victor M. Sveshnikov dedicated to the Neva river and the city of Saint Petersburg, 1992

Above: ‘Neva’ playing cards designed by Victor M. Sveshnikov and manufactured by The Colour Printing Plant in 1992. 52 cards + 2 jokers + title card in box.

Deck designed by Victor M. Sveshnikov dedicated to the Neva river and the city of Saint Petersburg, 1992
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By Simon Wintle

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I am the founder of The World of Playing Cards (est. 1996), a website dedicated to the history, artistry and cultural significance of playing cards and tarot. Over the years I have researched various areas of the subject, acquired and traded collections and contributed as a committee member of the IPCS and graphics editor of The Playing-Card journal. Having lived in Chile, England, Wales, and now Spain, these experiences have shaped my work and passion for playing cards. Amongst my achievements is producing a limited-edition replica of a 17th-century English pack using woodblocks and stencils—a labour of love. Today, the World of Playing Cards is a global collaborative project, with my son Adam serving as the technical driving force behind its development. His innovative efforts have helped shape the site into the thriving hub it is today. You are warmly invited to become a contributor and share your enthusiasm.

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