Odd Bods playing cards
Odd Bods playing cards illustrated by Jonathan Burton, United Kingdom, 2012.
This pack was designed and hand-illustrated by Jonathan Burton. It first appeared in 2012 for the exclusive enjoyment of members of the prestigious Folio Society. The aces and court cards feature a quirky character or amusing and delightful illustration, while the pip cards are arranged in an attractive non-standard pattern with a slight twist on each of the traditional suit signs. In 2016 the pack was re-issued in the USA by Art of Play, San Diego, and printed by the US Playing Card Company. While the cards are identical in both packs, the later pack features an all-new back design and a gold-foil embossed box. (See both boxes)
Above: Odd Bods playing cards illustrated by Jonathan Burton and first published by the Folio Society, 2012. Re-issued by Art of Play in 2016.
By Peter Burnett
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.
Related Articles
The Decadent Deck
Studies in the eroticism of the female body by Inge Clayton.
Historic Shakespeare
“Historic Shakespeare” playing cards featuring Shakespearean characters by Chas Goodall & Son.
Copechat Paramount Sorting System
Preserving the past: a specimen deck showcasing edge-notched cards and their ingenious sorting syste...
Heartsette by Herbert Fitch & Co, 1893
A glimpse into a busy print and design office in late Victorian London.
Rap Rummy
Rap Rummy made by Parker Brothers in 1926, only 4 years after the discovery of King Tutankhamen’s to...
German Travel Cards
A travel-themed educational deck helping American tourists visiting Germany.
Batman® playing cards
Batman playing cards published by InterCol of London 1989.
Can You Believe Your Eyes?
“Can You Believe Your Eyes?” playing cards featuring visual illusions & other oddities.
Pastime Playing Cards for the Blind
The “Pastime” Playing Cards for the Blind manufactured by Goodall & Son Limd., c.1910.
Songs with Flute accompaniment
Eighteenth century English engraved cards with music for voice and flute.
Love Tests
Vintage novelty “Love Test” cards of a slightly saucy nature but all in good fun!
Ben 10 playing cards
Characters from the American animated television science fantasy series Ben 10.
Get Decked
Black and white cartoons devised by Sam Wagner with help from artist Lindsay Bevington.
Doctor Who Trump Card Game
Game for two players in which Doctor Who and the Legendary Legion join battle with the Alien Hordes....
Beowulf
Jackson Robinson's Beowulf playing card deck inspired by the Old English pagan poem.
Keith Haring playing cards
Energetic graffiti images by the American artist Keith Haring.
Most Popular
Our top articles from the past 28 days
