Shakespeare playing cards: Insults
Shakespeare Insults playing cards with portraits by Jan Padover, USA, 2005.
This pack is the second volume of a double set published by Prospero Art of San Francisco in 2005. (For the first volume see Shakespeare playing cards: Quotes, 2004).
Every card presents a witty and cutting Shakespearean insult taken from every play written by the Bard, encased within an elegant and ornate golden border. The aces and court cards additionally feature beautiful watercolour pen and ink portraits by Jan Padover, inspired by Old Masters such as Michelangelo and Rembrandt. The jokers are Trinculo (from The Tempest) and Fool (from King Lear). See the box►
Above: Shakespeare Insults playing cards with watercolour pen and ink portraits by Jan Padover, published by Prospero Art, San Francisco, USA, 2005.
• See the Shakespeare Bridge double boxed set Vol.1 & Vol.2►
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
Red Hat Society playing cards
Society that encourages women in their quest to get the most out of life.
Mountain Dream Tarot
Groundbreaking Tarot created by Bea Nettles, using photographs and photo montage.
Agatha Christie and card games
Agatha Christie uses card-play as a primary focus of a story, and as a way of creating plots and mot...
Junior Playing Cards
Child-friendly versions of standard English pattern cards designed by Louie Mantia, Jr.
Last Call Cats playing cards
Bar-crawling cats, designed by artists Arna Miller and Ravi Zupa.
Covered bridges playing cards
Historical covered bridges with photography by Bill Miller, 2006.
Motherpeace Round Tarot
An original and imaginative feminist tarot based on Goddess energy.
Victorian playing cards
54 different card designs including people, animals, flowers, costumes and ornaments popular during ...
Crown Hill playing cards
Crown Hill playing cards with illustrations by Corrine Guiney, USA,
O-Shlemiel card game
O-Shlemiel card game with Yiddish words and phrases.
Hesslers Four-Colour “No Revoke” Deck
Hesslers Maiden Back Four-Colour “No Revoke” Deck, with enhanced visibility and a traditional look. ...
The Heart Deck™
Useful information about heart health on every card.
Star Trek® – The Original Series
Promotional pack for CIC Video with characters and starships from the original series of Star Trek. ...
Colonial Art
A collection of 53 pieces of art showcasing detailed scenes from early American colonial life.
Animal Kingdom
Crafted by Hatch Design and benefitting the World Wildlife Fund, animal heads replace the traditiona...
Classification of Numeral Card Designs in French-suited packs
The classification of numeral cards in French-suited packs, covering various pip designs in over 400...
Trending Articles
Popular articles from the past 28 days
