Magic Poker Cards

Published December 16, 2015 • Updated December 23, 2025

“Magic Poker Cards” are often found inside Christmas crackers along with party hats, puzzles and jokes...

Toy playing cards are often found inside Christmas crackers along with party hats, puzzles, gifts and festive jokes. Christmas crackers were first made in about 1845-1850 by a London sweet maker called Tom Smith. His sons developed the business and sourced a range of gifts including false teeth, rings, etc to put inside the crackers which became a popular Christmas tradition.

If you are lucky enough to find some playing cards in your cracker, they may look like these “Magic Poker Cards”:

“Magic Poker Cards” found inside Christmas cracker, 2014

Above: “Magic Poker Cards”, ACE brand, made in China, found inside Christmas cracker, 2014.

Above: “Magic Poker Cards”, INT'L brand, made in China, 2015. The magic poker cards comprise three special cards: one printed with an ace of spades on the front and the king of hearts (based on the classic USPCC Bicycle design) on the rear, the other two double backed with an ordinary card back design on each side, and a slip of paper detailing instructions for a simple magic trick. Images courtesy Matt Probert.

Above: “Magic Poker Cards” found inside Christmas cracker, 2018. Three special cards: one printed with an ace of spades on the front and the king of hearts on the rear, the other two double backed, plus a slip of paper detailing instructions for a simple magic trick.

This INT'L ace of spades is a very popular Chinese brand, for example souvenir decks produced for international airlines and other firms. The aces of spades comes with a variety of different Jokers. Additional research by Matt Probert.

Also from Christmas Crackers....

Above: “Christmas Snap Cards” (2017) courtesy Sean Parry.

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By Simon Wintle

Spain • Member since February 01, 1996

I am the founder of The World of Playing Cards (est. 1996), a website dedicated to the history, artistry and cultural significance of playing cards and tarot. Over the years I have researched various areas of the subject, acquired and traded collections and contributed as a committee member of the IPCS and graphics editor of The Playing-Card journal. Having lived in Chile, England, Wales, and now Spain, these experiences have shaped my work and passion for playing cards. Amongst my achievements is producing a limited-edition replica of a 17th-century English pack using woodblocks and stencils—a labour of love. Today, the World of Playing Cards is a global collaborative project, with my son Adam serving as the technical driving force behind its development. His innovative efforts have helped shape the site into the thriving hub it is today. You are warmly invited to become a contributor and share your enthusiasm.