• Fax: +44 (0)1225 424993
• Tel: +44 (0)1225 465218  

Tel:01458 223812

E.P.C.S. Constitution
UK Membership Form
Overseas Membership Form

English Playing-Cards
Links

THE ENGLISH PLAYING CARD SOCIETY was founded in 1984, on a non profit-making basis, by Peter Way and Major R.T. 'Donald' Welsh (right).

Please click here to read article about "Collecting English Playing Cards" by Major Donald Welsh, co-founder of the Society.

Please click here to read the Society's CONSTITUTION.

he purpose of the Society is to bring together collectors, researchers, manufacturers, museums and libraries, and all persons interested who wish to increase their knowledge of English playing cards and card games, their makers and designers. An informative, well illustrated and readable newsletter is published quarterly (see below) together with details of meetings, auctions, new publications and recent discoveries. A list of all members and their individual interests is produced once a year.

 
 

The SOCIETY MOTIF

The Society Motif (left) is from "The History of Playing Cards" by Rev. E.S. Taylor (1865). On page 238 there is a picture of the dog and the devil entitled 'Deuce and Tray'. An Ace of Spades symbol has been added to complete a representation of the first three cards in a standard pack: ace, deuce and three.  The Ace and Deuce need no explanation. The dog 'Tray' is phonetically similar to 'tres' or 'three'.

The E.P.C.S. Logo

The E.P.C.S. Logo (left) , designed by Simon Wintle, is based on the 'Garter' Ace of Spades.

 

The NEWSLETTER

he Society publishes a well-illustrated, A4 Newsletter which is free to members; this is dispatched three times a year and comprises well over 100 pages yearly. This builds up into a reference source, with an index, containing information which is not readily available through any other source. Members are invited to contribute articles to the Newsletter. Topics covered in recent issues include:

• Royal Finery on Playing Cards
• Hand Decorated Transformation Cards
• Tennis Snap/Nursery Rhyme Snap
• New Issues
• Historic packs/Brewery cards/OXO cards
• Titanic Playing Cards
• Pneumatic Playing Cards
• A New English Playing Card Manufacturer
• English Standard Card Manufacturers
• Non-Standard packs
• Happy Birthday Mickey Mouse (1928-1998)
• Abolition of Duty on Playing Cards
• 75^th Anniversary of the Royal British Legion
• Fakes and Forgeries
• Multum in Parvo: "Good Shilling Card Games"
• Floral Conversation Cards
• Spitfire 60^th Anniversary
• Valentine Games
• An Exciting Find
• A Card Player's Reverie
• The EPCS 15^th Anniversary pack
• The EPCS Millennium pack
• ...

MEETINGS

he Society usually holds two meetings each year, a golden opportunity for exchanging and buying cards, as well as a social occasion. A talk is usually given on an interesting topic relating to playing cards, and refreshments are available.

EPCS meetings are scheduled at Bath on 26th April 2008 and Milton Keynes on 18th October 2008. Please email The Secretary for further information. Click here to see photo of 16/10/04 meeting at Milton Keynes... photo 2. Further details of forthcoming events, speakers and other arrangements will be posted here as soon as available.

f you are planning to travel by train, click here to see UK Railways timetable information. For a currency converter go to www.xe.com/ucc/

AUCTIONS

postal auction is offered to members with each Newsletter, as well as card sales lists. A free information service is offered whereby any English pack or game can be identified and entered into the auction if desired.