The Beatles playing cards

Published March 24, 2024 Updated March 24, 2024

Two packs featuring photos of The Beatles issued by the same publisher in 2004 and 2005.

2004 United Kingdom Worldwide Co The Beatles Haime & Butler Music Pop Culture

Pack 1

54 different photographs of the Fab Four (John, Paul, George, and Ringo), with almost one third in colour and the rest in black and white. The back shows a photo of the members of the group above a piece of red and orange (gold?) material.

The Beatles playing cards published by Worldwide Co., London, UK, 2004 The Beatles playing cards published by Worldwide Co., London, UK, 2004
The Beatles playing cards published by Worldwide Co., London, UK, 2004

Above: The Beatles playing cards designed by Haime & Butler. Published by Worldwide Co., London, UK, 2004. Printed in Taiwan. 52 cards + 2 Jokers in tuck box. Size: 63 x 88 mm. © Photos: Retna. © Design/text: Nicky Bird Design.

Pack 2

54 different photographs of the Fab Four, with about a dozen in colour and the rest in black and white. Eight of the photos are repeated from Pack 1, but only two are on the same card as in Pack 1 (AS, 5S). One of the Jokers shows John Lennon with Harold Wilson. Backs: horizontal format with only the heads of the four members of the group.

The Beatles playing cards published by Worldwide Co., London, UK, 2005 The Beatles playing cards published by Worldwide Co., London, UK, 2005
The Beatles playing cards published by Worldwide Co., London, UK, 2005

Above: The Beatles playing cards published by Worldwide Co., London, UK, 2005. 52 cards + 2 Jokers in tuck box. Printed in Taiwan. Size: 63 x 88 mm. Photographs: © Getty Images except AS, KH, 9H, 7D, 6C, 5S, 3S, 2S © Retna. Design © Nicky Bird Design, 2005

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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.

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