Peterhof
“Peterhof” deck manufactured at the St Petersburg Colour Printing Plant in 1999.
Peterhof souvenir deck manufactured by the St Petersburg Colour Printing Plant (Kombinat Tsvetnoi Pechati) in 1999 with court cards depicting representatives of the Russian Romanov dynasty who were rulers from 1613 until the Russian Revolution of February 1917. The designs were originally published by Piatnik as “Romanow (nr. 1141)” in 1997. Peterhof Palace was founded at the beginning of the 18th century and became the Russian Tsars’ summer residence during the 18th-19th centuries. It contains the world’s largest system of fountains and water cascades.
Each court card portrays a Tsar or Tsarina whose life and fate was associated with the Palace. The three named Jokers are Aleksandr Menshikov (statesman and friend of Tsar Peter the Great), Grigorii Rasputin (mystic and self-proclaimed holy man who befriended the family of Nicholas II, the last Emperor of Russia), and Ernst Johann von Biron (briefly regent of the Russian Empire in 1740).
Above: “Peterhof” deck manufactured at the St Petersburg Colour Printing Plant in 1999. 52 cards + 3 jokers + extra card in box. The three jokers depict Rasputin, Biron and Menshikov. The deck had been printed previously by Piatnik with the title “Romanow (nr. 1141)” in 1997.
Above: Peterhof Palace was founded at the beginning of the 18th century and was the Russian Tsars’ summer residence in the 18th-19th centuries.
NOTE: a pack of the same name was published by Mednyi Vsadnik as a photographic souvenir of the Peterhof palace, treasures, fountains and gardens. Extra descriptive notes courtesy Peter Burnett.
By Simon Wintle
Member since February 01, 1996
Founder and editor of the World of Playing Cards since 1996. He is a former committee member of the IPCS and was graphics editor of The Playing-Card journal for many years. He has lived at various times in Chile, England and Wales and is currently living in Extremadura, Spain. Simon's first limited edition pack of playing cards was a replica of a seventeenth century traditional English pack, which he produced from woodblocks and stencils.
Related Articles
The Glasgow Pack
Issued to celebrate Glasgow’s reign as European City of Culture in 1990, with city views and works o...
Baraja Turística del País Vasco
Basque poker deck of 55 cards published by Fournier with scenic views of the Basque Country.
Russian Circus deck
The Russian Circus deck published by the Imperial Playing Card Factory, St Petersburg.
English Heritage
52 different colour photos of historic sites managed by English Heritage.
Covered bridges playing cards
Historical covered bridges with photography by Bill Miller, 2006.
Hispania Romana
Educational card game depicting the Roman period in Spanish history.
Royal Britain
Pack devised by Pietro Alligo depicting English monarchs from Alfred the Great to Elizabeth II.
Go Go Gorillas!
Go Go Gorillas! charity playing cards sponsored by the Eastern Daily Press and the Norwich Evening N...
Piatnik’s 200th Anniversary
A special philatelic souvenir for Piatnik’s 200th anniversary, combining playing cards an...
Sissi playing cards
produced for the Austrian tourist market.
English cards from the reign of Charles II
This article explores a historic pack of English playing cards from circa 1675, likely used by King ...
Seashells playing cards
Each card shows colour photo of a different seashell for easy identification.
Introduction to Collecting Themes
Playing cards can be broadly categorised into standard and non-standard designs, with collectors app...
Scenic Views of Australia
54 different scenic views of Australia in full colour.
Monuments de Paris
‘Monuments de Paris’ souvenir playing cards produced by Heraclio Fournier, c.1964.
British Monarchs
Commemorating the royal wedding of Charles, Prince of Wales to Lady Diana Spencer on the 29th
Trending Articles
Popular articles from the past 28 days
