A Newfoundland Deck of Cards

A poker-sized deck of cards designed locally by Graham Blair Woodcuts, themed on the traditional Livyer activities of fishing, hunting, sealing, and shearing, and of course, mummer-themed jokers!

The Cards:

DIAMONDS (summer fishing): A cod for the Jack is matched with a fisherman King holding a jigger and a fish fork, and a Queen bearing a wooden salt shovel and a split cod ready for salting; they are all pictured against the rolling waves of the Atlantic Ocean.

HEARTS (fall hunting): A hunter King and caribou Jack roam the boreal forests, while the Queen gathers wild blueberries with a berry rake or “comb.” Newfoundland’s provincial flower – the pitcher plant – is scattered about on the ground.

CLUBS (winter sealing): A hakapik-wielding sealer King is paired with a Queen brandishing a rolling pin and cradling a seal-flipper pie, a traditional meal for sealing families. A heavy snow is falling in the background.

SPADES (spring shearing): Once found across the island of Newfoundland, a sheep waits to be shorn by the King, who holds a pair of blade shears. The Queen gets ready to knit using a finished ball of wool. Tall lupins flower in the background.

THE JOKERS are Newfoundland mummers, revelers who disguise themselves at Christmastime and visit the homes of friends and family, who offer food and drink and try to guess their identities. One mummer plays an accordion and wears Groucho Marx glasses, and the other holds a noisy ugly stick and has snatched Nan's bra to wear over their coat!

• Designed by Graham Blair and printed by the United States Playing Card Company

• Same card stock and air-cushion embossed-linen finish as Bicycle brand playing cards

• Borderless back design with a blueberry-patch theme

• Bilingual explanation cards in each deck

• Custom tuck box with cello wrapping and USPCC seal

About Graham:

Art, design, hand carved wood printing, Graham Blair is an achieved artist residing here in St. John's, NL. With a keen eye for design, he first caught our eye with his magnificent woodcut prints in traditional NL inspired designs. He has continued to expand his offerings all with that quintessential essence of Newfoundland and Labrador, with influences from our provinces' rich folklore to stunning wildlife and nature.