Whales and Friends
Whales and penguins as seen through the eyes of marine life artist Robert Wyland.
American marine life artist and conservationist Wyland (full name Robert Wyland, b. 1956) is best known for his “Whaling Walls”, more than 100 of which decorate large buildings across the world. His work draws attention to marine mammal conservation and other environmental issues such as pollution. In this pack, the designs are bold and striking but (disappointingly) repeated in each suit. There is also a comical Joker. Two different back designs were produced, both borderless. These back designs were also used on the fronts of the tuck boxes►
Above: Whales and penguins playing cards by marine life artist Robert Wyland, made by Carta Mundi for the Hawaiian Heritage Playing Card Co. Ltd., Honolulu, Hawaii, USA, 1985. 52 cards + 2 (identical) Jokers + 1 extra card in tuck box. Size: 63 x 88 mm.
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
Nimbus playing cards
Mike Steer’s weather-themed pack with suits in four colours and backs for cardistry.
Rap Rummy
Rap Rummy made by Parker Brothers in 1926, only 4 years after the discovery of King Tutankhamen’s to...
German Travel Cards
A travel-themed educational deck helping American tourists visiting Germany.
Can You Believe Your Eyes?
“Can You Believe Your Eyes?” playing cards featuring visual illusions & other oddities.
Never Mind the Belote
Limited edition Belote pack with designs by a collective of 24 street artists.
Get Decked
Black and white cartoons devised by Sam Wagner with help from artist Lindsay Bevington.
Beowulf
Jackson Robinson's Beowulf playing card deck inspired by the Old English pagan poem.
Keith Haring playing cards
Energetic graffiti images by the American artist Keith Haring.
La Réussite (Sébastien Féraut)
Sébastien Féraut’s designs inspired by the animal kingdom for a set promoting patience games.
Barok
Dutch pack from the 1950s with colourful Baroque courts, reprinted in 1983.
The Tarot of Meditation – Yeager Tarot
Marty Yeager’s original Tarot of Meditation from 1975, republished later by U.S. Games Systems, Inc....
Adobe Deck
The first digitally-produced deck of cards.
Seminole Wars deck
Seminole Wars deck by J. Y. Humphreys, Philadelphia, c.1819.
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.
The Glasgow Pack
Issued to celebrate Glasgow’s reign as European City of Culture in 1990, with city views and works o...
Most Popular
Our top articles from the past 28 days
