Mad Jack Miracle Pack
Mad Jack Miracle Pack by Chu’s Magic (Tobar) 1999.
“Mad Jack Miracle Pack” designed for children by Chu’s Magic (Tobar) 1999.
By Matt Probert
Member since March 02, 2012
I have adored playing cards since before I was seven years old, and was brought up on packs of Waddington's No 1. As a child I was fascinated by the pictures of the court cards.
Over the next fifty years I was seduced by the artwork in Piatnik's packs and became a collector of playing cards.
Seeking more information about various unidentified packs I discovered the World of Playing Cards website and became an enthusiastic contributor researching and documenting different packs of cards.
I describe my self as a playing card archaeologist, using detective work to identify and date obscure packs of cards discovered in old houses, flea markets and car boot sales.
Related Articles
Woodblock and Stencil Joker
A limited edition art print of the 1984 woodblock joker.
Woodblock and Stencil King of Diamonds
A limited edition art print of the King of Diamonds 1984 woodblock joker.
Woodblock and Stencil Jack of Clubs
A limited edition art print of the Jack of Clubs 1984 woodblock joker.
Woodblock and Stencil Queen of Clubs
A limited edition art print of the Queen of Clubs 1984 woodblock joker.
Lend Me Five Shillings
or “Her Majesty’s Privy Purse” - a merry round-the-table game published by D. Ogilvy.
Laughing Made Easy
a Victorian card game published by D. Ogilvy.
So-Lah – A Game of Music
An early 20th century domino-type musical card game by Goodall.
Word Making and Word Taking
How crossword and spelling games became popular.
Mechanical Decks – Part 2
This article examines the Rough and Smooth principle in mechanical decks used in magic, detailing se...
The Search for New Games in the late 19th century
A few new games survived and are still around today; most came and went and are only witnessed in th...
Undressed deck
Undressed deck created by Edi Rudo and Néro Catineau, USA, 2020.
Vogelspiel
Vogelspiel, a German card game known as the “cuckoo game” also known as “Gnau”.
Mechanical Decks – Part 1
This article explores various mechanical decks used in magic, including the long-short principle in ...
Fox Lake Playing Cards
A Magician’s Perspective.
Jonathan Hocus Pocus
Two sets of conjuring cards published by G. Martin, 6 Great St Thomas Apostle, London, early 19th ce...
Pixel Tarot
This tarot deck pays tribute to the golden age of pixelated video games, drawing inspiration from th...
Hoyle v Foster: whose name should we remember?
Hoyle’s name is associated with the rules by which many games are played, particularly card games B...
Hoyle and his Legacy
Edmond Hoyle (1672-1769) was an English writer who made his name by writing on whist and a selection...
Bridge Markers and bridge scoring methods
Bridge Markers and bridge scoring methods 1900-1930
Pinochle
I have always been intrigued by the game Pinochle.
Les 7 Familles Pyrénées
Mountains, flowers, animals, tourist sites of the Pyrenees, all drawn by the artist Pertuzé.
Jeu des 7 Familles Spider-Man
Colourful card game featuring the Marvel Comics superhero Spider-Man and some of his fearsome advers...
Dungeons & Dragons “Curse of Strahd” Tarokka Deck
Enhance your Dungeons & Dragons game with the Tarokka Deck, a tarot-inspired set of cards that bring...
Old Bachelor™
The 90’s version of Old Maid with illustrations by Susan Wise.
Fried Chicken Playing Cards
This innovative chicken-themed concept combines playing cards with the aroma of fried chicken.
Jeu de 7 Familles France 98
Families card game with comic designs featuring seven of the teams competing in the 1998 World Cup. ...
Cleveland Museum of Art artists card game
Cleveland Museum of Art artists card game, USA, c.1993.
Jeu de Familles Les Pierrafeu®
Quartet game featuring The Flintstones and friends.
Papst Quartett
A quartet game featuring a selection of popes up to Benedict XVI.
Chinese Opera Masks Playing Cards 脸谱
Three different packs of cards featuring traditional Chinese face painting and Chinese opera masks.
TikTok Tarot
TikTok Tarot is a unique tarot deck that puts a modern spin on the Rider-Waite format; with TikTok-i...
Chinese Money-Suited Playing Cards from the British Museum
This deck of Chinese playing cards, donated to the British Museum in 1896, is believed to have been ...
Acelion Cyberpunk Playing Cards
This cyberpunk deck by Acelion combines magic and science fiction elements, inspired by Nordic mytho...
Lecardo
‘Lecardo’ playing cards, dominos & word building game invented by Stanley Kermode, United Kingdom, c...
Pumuckl quartet game
Quartet game featuring the kobold Pumuckl, creation of the German author Ellis Kaut.
Charlie Brown Plays Baseball card game
Peanuts comic strip characters on cards for regular play or a special game based on baseball.
Alternative Happy Families
An updated, 1980s-style “Alternative Happy Families” game.
Detskie
‘Detskie’ children’s cards produced in Russia, 2001.
Politically Incorrect Happy Families
A Happy Families set with many differences from a conventional one.
Popular Fine Art Litho Works
A standard English pack and one adapted for magic tricks by Popular Fine Art Litho Works Ltd., Bomba...
Waddingtons Nursery Rhymes
Nursery rhyme playing cards by Waddingtons, Leeds, UK, 1975.
Vesalius Anatomy Card Game
Celebrating the work of Andreas Vesalius in the quincentenary year of his birth.
Black Peter
Two Black Peter games by Willy Mayrl published by Ferd Piatnik & Söhne, 1950s.
Sergeant-Major
Sergeant-Major card game devised by W.G.Smith