Leadmill playing cards

Published November 08, 2024 Updated November 08, 2024

Promotional pack for an arts centre in Sheffield with designs by Martin F. Bedford.

1990 United Kingdom Martin F. Bedford Advertising Art & Design Music

The Leadmill is a legendary venue for live music, club nights and comedy in Sheffield. One of the founding members in 1980 was Martin F. Bedford (d.2023), the artist who designed this pack in 1990 as a promotional item for the venue. The attractive and beautifully coloured double-ended courts depict different indigenous peoples including Native Americans (D) and Celts (S). Perhaps these figures were intended to represent the universality of art and music. The aces are also decorated. The Joker design is signed and dated by the artist. Is it in fact a self-portrait?   See the box

Leadmill playing cards published by The Leadmill, Sheffield, UK, 1990 Leadmill playing cards published by The Leadmill, Sheffield, UK, 1990 Leadmill playing cards published by The Leadmill, Sheffield, UK, 1990

Above: Leadmill playing cards published by The Leadmill, Sheffield, UK, 1990. Probably printed in Belgium. 52 cards + 2 (identical) Jokers + 1 extra card in tuck box. Size: 58 x 89 mm.

Further References

Martin F Bedford

Martin F Bedford: ‘Sheffield Legend’ – Poster and Graphic Artist

avatar
605 Articles

By Roddy Somerville

Member since May 31, 2022

Roddy started collecting stamps on his 8th birthday. In 1977 he joined the newly formed playing-card department at Stanley Gibbons in London before setting up his own business in Edinburgh four years later. His collecting interests include playing cards, postcards, stamps (especially playing cards on stamps) and sugar wrappers. He is a Past President of the Scottish Philatelic Society, a former Chairman of the IPCS, a Past Master of the Worshipful Company of Makers of Playing Cards and Curator of the WCMPC’s collection of playing cards. He lives near Toulouse in France.

Related Articles

1980 Tangle Foot Ale

Tangle Foot Ale

Badger Brewery Tangle Foot strong ale advertising pack.

1970 ViVa Bourg

ViVa Bourg

A distinctive deck of cards for a specific promotion.

1970 Dancing

Dancing

“Dancing” playing cards manufactured by Nintendo for Torii Dance School, Osaka.

1982 Tactics Design

Tactics Design

Late modernist Japanese playing cards designed by Masayoshi Nakajo for Tactics Design.

1891 Scientific Whist

Scientific Whist

“Scientific Whist” : standard cards with instructions for play on the faces by Chas Goodall & Son, 1...

1985 Agent Provocateur

Agent Provocateur

Branded lingerie collection in a pack of pin-up playing cards.

2012 Shin-Tōmei Expressway Opening Commemoration

Shin-Tōmei Expressway Opening Commemoration

Promotional playing cards for the Shin-Tōmei Expressway, a major Japanese expressway that opened in ...

2021 Nimbus playing cards

Nimbus playing cards

Mike Steer’s weather-themed pack with suits in four colours and backs for cardistry.

2025 Agatha Christie and Playing Cards revisited

Agatha Christie and Playing Cards revisited

Agatha Christie uses card-play as a primary focus of a story, and as a way of creating plots and mot...

2006 The Decadent Deck

The Decadent Deck

Studies in the eroticism of the female body by Inge Clayton.

1893 Historic Shakespeare

Historic Shakespeare

“Historic Shakespeare” playing cards featuring Shakespearean characters by Chas Goodall & Son.

1970 Sunday Night / Nichiyoubi no Yoru

Sunday Night / Nichiyoubi no Yoru

An irreverent, avant-garde deck unofficially titled "Nichiyoubi no Yoru" (Sunday Night), designed by...

1925 Copechat Paramount Sorting System

Copechat Paramount Sorting System

Preserving the past: a specimen deck showcasing edge-notched cards and their ingenious sorting syste...

1893 Heartsette by Herbert Fitch & Co, 1893

Heartsette by Herbert Fitch & Co, 1893

A glimpse into a busy print and design office in late Victorian London.

1991 Intersigma

Intersigma

A Czech advertising deck for a company dealing with pump technology.

1982 Emilio Tadini playing cards

Emilio Tadini playing cards

Beautiful dreamlike playing card designs by Emilio Tadini.