The World of Playing Cards Logo

U.S. Presidents playing cards

Published May 23, 2023 Updated May 23, 2023

U.S. Presidents Bicycle playing cards designed by Johnny Whaam, USA, 2015

2015 USA United States Playing Card Co. Bicycle Johnny Whaam Americana Kickstarter Political

This pack was created by Collectable Playing Cards, designed by Johnny Whaam, and printed as a Bicycle deck by the United States Playing card Company in 2015. Each card has been hand drawn in the most intricate detail to feature 44 presidents (up to and including Barack Obama) and 4 popular first ladies as queens. Those chosen to appear on the court cards were based on popularity and the president’s influence on the nation’s history. The remaining presidents are uniquely featured on the number cards. The aces feature the Liberty Bell (hearts), the Statue of Liberty (spades), the Eye of Providence (diamonds), and Mount Rushmore (clubs). Uncle Sam (a common national personification of the American government) appears on the two jokers. The pack was issued as a Kickstarter project in three versions: one with a Republican red tuck box, a second with a Democratic blue tuck box, and the third was issued with a de-luxe embossed tuck box. See the box

U.S. Presidents Bicycle playing cards designed by Johnny Whaam, USA, 2015 U.S. Presidents Bicycle playing cards designed by Johnny Whaam, USA, 2015 U.S. Presidents Bicycle playing cards designed by Johnny Whaam, USA, 2015

Above: U.S. Presidents Bicycle playing cards designed by Johnny Whaam, USA, 2015.

avatar
527 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.


Leave a Reply

Default Avatar
Your Name
Just now

Create account to comment Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here.


Related Articles

1975 Mountain Dream Tarot

Mountain Dream Tarot

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

2022 Clear Skies

Clear Skies

‘Clear Skies’ playing cards paying tribute to the Ukrainian people in the face of war.

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 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. ...

2011 The Heart Deck™

The Heart Deck™

Useful information about heart health on every card.

1996 Star Trek® – The Original Series

Star Trek® – The Original Series

Promotional pack for CIC Video with characters and starships from the original series of Star Trek. ...

1973 Colonial Art

Colonial Art

A collection of 53 pieces of art showcasing detailed scenes from early American colonial life.

2012 Animal Kingdom

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

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...

2023 Warner Bros 100<sup>th</sup> Anniversary

Warner Bros 100th Anniversary

An array of famous characters from Warner Bros films in celebration of the company’s centenary.