The World of Playing Cards Logo

1906 Earthquake

Published March 26, 2023 Updated March 26, 2023

Facts, figures, stories and scandals about the 1906 Earthquake published by the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy.

2005 USA Piatnik Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy Commemorative

Published by the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, and printed by Piatnik, Vienna, this pack commemorates the violent earthquake that struck San Francisco on 18th April 1906 and the following catastrophic fire that destroyed over 500 city blocks. Each of the 52 cards and the 2 jokers present detailed facts, figures, stories and scandals. There is an additional double-sided information card summarizing the historic event on one side, and detailing the work of the Golden Gate National Parks and its non-profit partner, the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy on the other. See the box

1906 Earthquake commemoration playing cards published by the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, and printed by Piatnik, Vienna in 2005 1906 Earthquake commemoration playing cards published by the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, and printed by Piatnik, Vienna in 2005 1906 Earthquake commemoration playing cards published by the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, and printed by Piatnik, Vienna in 2005

Above: 1906 Earthquake commemoration playing cards published by the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, and printed by Piatnik, Vienna in 2005.

avatar
530 Articles

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.

Russian Playing Cards

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

1972 The UCR Deck

The UCR Deck

Giant-size cards designed by Thomas Sanders to advertise courses and facilities at UCR.

2015 Fredericks & Mae playing cards

Fredericks & Mae playing cards

A rainbow pack from the design team of Fredericks & Mae and Benjamin English.

2007 Verkeers Kwartet

Verkeers Kwartet

A helpful quartet game celebrating the 75th anniversary of road safety exams making traffic safer.

2004 Red Hat Society playing cards

Red Hat Society playing cards

Society that encourages women in their quest to get the most out of life.

1990 Play Architecture

Play Architecture

Twentieth century architects and their creations on a well-designed pack from Finland.

1975 Mountain Dream Tarot

Mountain Dream Tarot

Groundbreaking Tarot created by Bea Nettles, using photographs and photo montage.

2021 Junior Playing Cards

Junior Playing Cards

Child-friendly versions of standard English pattern cards designed by Louie Mantia, Jr.

2021 Last Call Cats playing cards

Last Call Cats playing cards

Bar-crawling cats, designed by artists Arna Miller and Ravi Zupa.

2006 La Baraja del Mundial

La Baraja del Mundial

“La Baraja del Mundial” satirical football deck published by Fournier for ‘Interviú’ news magazine. ...

Art pack I

Art pack I

Art pack featuring Old Masters, including Bruegel, Vermeer, Titian, Raphael, Caravaggio, Canaletto, ...

2006 Covered bridges playing cards

Covered bridges playing cards

Historical covered bridges with photography by Bill Miller, 2006.

1981 Motherpeace Round Tarot

Motherpeace Round Tarot

An original and imaginative feminist tarot based on Goddess energy.

1986 Victorian playing cards

Victorian playing cards

54 different card designs including people, animals, flowers, costumes and ornaments popular during ...

1980 Crown Hill playing cards

Crown Hill playing cards

Crown Hill playing cards with illustrations by Corrine Guiney, USA,

1974 O-Shlemiel card game

O-Shlemiel card game

O-Shlemiel card game with Yiddish words and phrases.

2024 Hesslers Four-Colour “No Revoke” Deck

Hesslers Four-Colour “No Revoke” Deck

Hesslers Maiden Back Four-Colour “No Revoke” Deck, with enhanced visibility and a traditional look. ...