The Broons and Oor Wullie playing cards

Published September 27, 2023 Updated September 27, 2023

Characters from The Broons and Oor Wullie comic strips on their 75th anniversary.

2011 Scotland United Kingdom D.C. Thomson & Co. Dudley D. Watkins Comic Books Pop Culture

The Broons and Oor Wullie comic strips first appeared in The Sunday Post newspaper on 8th March 1936. Their popularity was instant. The language of the stories is a broad Scots dialect, unique to these strips, but not found on these cards. Instead, present on the cards are 14 (unnamed) characters from the strips. The designs are repeated on each suit and the Jokers are identical. In contrast to the black and white faces, there is a very colourful, horizontal back design depicting a beach scene with many of the characters in action. This pack was only available with the annual, which also included a page of stickers and various puzzles. See the annual

The Broons and Oor Wullie playing cards published by D.C. Thomson Annuals Ltd, Dundee, Scotland, UK, 2011 The Broons and Oor Wullie playing cards published by D.C. Thomson Annuals Ltd, Dundee, Scotland, UK, 2011

Above: The Broons and Oor Wullie playing cards published by D.C. Thomson Annuals Ltd, Dundee, Scotland, UK, 2011. Printed in China. 52 cards + 2 (identical) Jokers in tuck box, together with the 2011 The Broons and Oor Wullie Summer Annual. Size: 56.5 x 86 mm. © D.C. Thomson & Co., Ltd., 2011.

• See the box

avatar
607 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

1991 Kids Fun Box playing cards

Kids Fun Box playing cards

Colourful cards for children with four non-standard suits connected with the natural world.

1980 Tangle Foot Ale

Tangle Foot Ale

Badger Brewery Tangle Foot strong ale advertising pack.

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.

2021 Nimbus playing cards

Nimbus playing cards

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

1961 Danao Tiāngōng Puke

Danao Tiāngōng Puke

Children’s playing cards based on the 1961 Chinese animated feature film 大闹天宫 (Havoc in Heaven).

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.

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.

1989 Batman® playing cards

Batman® playing cards

Batman playing cards published by InterCol of London 1989.

1984 Can You Believe Your Eyes?

Can You Believe Your Eyes?

“Can You Believe Your Eyes?” playing cards featuring visual illusions & other oddities.

1910 Pastime Playing Cards for the Blind

Pastime Playing Cards for the Blind

The “Pastime” Playing Cards for the Blind manufactured by Goodall & Son Limd., c.1910.

1730 Songs with Flute accompaniment

Songs with Flute accompaniment

Eighteenth century English engraved cards with music for voice and flute.

1930 Love Tests

Love Tests

Vintage novelty “Love Test” cards of a slightly saucy nature but all in good fun!