U.S. Presidents playing cards
U.S. Presidents Bicycle playing cards designed by Johnny Whaam, USA, 2015
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►
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
The UCR Deck
Giant-size cards designed by Thomas Sanders to advertise courses and facilities at UCR.
Fredericks & Mae playing cards
A rainbow pack from the design team of Fredericks & Mae and Benjamin English.
Red Hat Society playing cards
Society that encourages women in their quest to get the most out of life.
Pam is the Knave of Clubs
Playing cards as metaphors in 18th century art - from fate, chance and social hierarchy t...
Dr Sacheverell
Dr. Henry Sacheverell's impeachment in 1710 sparked widespread public unrest and political upheaval,...
Cartes politiques : Jeu d'actualité
Political playing cards published by Grimaud et Chartier, Paris, 1872.
Politiker-Skat by Bubec
Caricatures of world leaders, including many German politicians, by the artist Bubec.
Le Poker Politique
French politicians and various world leaders caricatured by the German artist Bubec.
Mountain Dream Tarot
Groundbreaking Tarot created by Bea Nettles, using photographs and photo montage.
Clear Skies
‘Clear Skies’ playing cards paying tribute to the Ukrainian people in the face of war.
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,