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2023 100 Articles
December 2023 36 Articles
Vogelspiel
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by Simon Wintle
Vogelspiel, a German card game known as the “cuckoo game” also known as “Gnau”.
Mediaeval Playing Cards
Finely executed late 19th century pack from the USA featuring courts in medieval costume.
Spanish-suited deck by J.Y. Humphreys
A rare Spanish-suited deck published by J.Y. Humphreys, Philadelphia, c.1816.
Bush League Allstars
Six different decks of “Bush League Allstars” political playing cards, United States, 2004.
Gone to Pot: Gardener’s playing cards
‘Gone to Pot’: special playing cards for keen gardeners, United Kingdom.
Trappola pack by Anton Herrl
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by Simon Wintle
Trappola pack of 36 double-ended cards published by Anton Herrl, Graz, Austria.
Illustrated piquet cards
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by Simon Wintle
Bavarian piquet cards with oriental illustrations produced by Andreas Benedict Göbl, Munich, late 18th c.
Standard French-suited Bavarian deck by Göbl
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by Simon Wintle
French-suited Bavarian deck by Andreas Benedict Göbl, late 18th c.
Animal Tarot by Andreas Benedict Göbl
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by Simon Wintle
French-suited Animal Tarot deck produced by Andreas Benedict Göbl, Munich.
Tarocco Piemontese by Giovanni Rossi
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by Simon Wintle
18th c. Piedmont Tarocchi by Giovanni Rossi, Turin.
Keep-em honest playing cards
Keep-em honest playing cards designed by Chris Cooper and published by Dark Horse Deluxe.
Oriental Scenes tarock
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by Simon Wintle
Trumps have oriental scenes on one end of the card, and mermaids, mermen, assorted sea serpents and monsters on the other end.
Sally Ferries playing cards
Sally Ferries Euro playing cards and phrase pack, United Kingdom, c.1990s.
Swiss Scenic Tarock
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by Simon Wintle
Scenic Tarock deck produced by Fabrique de Cartes J. Müller & Cie (Schaffhouse), Suisse.
Don’t come back
“Don’t come back” playing cards produced by Hounslow NHS Primary Care Trust and Feltham Young Offender’s Institution, United Kingdom
Costumes of Turkey Tarot
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by Simon Wintle
‘National Costumes of Turkey’ tarot by Industrie Comptoir, Leipzig, c.1800-1825.
Besançon Tarot by Jacob Jerger
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by Simon Wintle
Besançon tarot published by Jacob Jerger, 18th century.
Natural History Tarot
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by Simon Wintle
Natural History Tarot published by G M, Germany, early 19th C.
The Tarot Strikes Back
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by Adam Wintle
Roy Huteson Stewart's The Tarot Strikes Back combines Star Wars with Rider-Waite tarot imagery.
Æsop’s Fables tarot
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by Simon Wintle
French-suited Æsop’s fables tarot produced by Leipzig Industrie Comptoir, c.1800-1825.
Mechanical Decks – Part 2
This article examines the Rough and Smooth principle in mechanical decks used in magic, detailing several types such as the Invisible, Brainwave, Split, and Nudist Decks. It explores their history and usage without revealing the specific methods behind their magic tricks.
Animal Tarot by J. B Dubois
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by Simon Wintle
French-suited Bavarian Animal Tarot by J B Dubois, Liège, Belgium, late 18th C.
House of Tudor
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by Adam Wintle
Randy Butterfield's House of Tudor playing cards feature detailed art in a high-quality collectible style.
Animal Tarot by Johann M Backofen
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by Simon Wintle
French-suited ‘Bavarian Animal Tarot’ by Johann Matheus Backofen, Nürnberg, late 18th C.
Animal Tarot by J. T Dubois
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by Simon Wintle
Early 19th century Animal Tarot pack produced by J T Dubois, Liège, Belgium.
Les métiers et leurs protecteurs
“Les métiers et leurs protecteurs” playing cards published by Editions Dusserre, c. 1995.
Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte
Famous people associated with Nicolas Fouquet’s splendid château of Vaux-le-Vicomte.
Albano-Waite® Tarot
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by Simon Wintle
Recoloured version of the Rider/Waite/Smith tarot produced by Frankie Albano, 1968.
Branle playing cards
‘Branle’ playing cards inspired by a 12th-century dance, produced by Noir Arts, USA, 2015.
November 2023 37 Articles
Compagnie Maritime des Chargeurs Réunis
French navigators and explorers on a promotional pack for the C.M.C.R shipping company.
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots
“Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots” video game characters on playing cards, Japan, 2008
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End
Pack featuring six images from the Disney film of the same name, on cards made for Eastern Europe.
Umbrella Academy playing cards
Umbrella Academy playing cards created by Gerard Way and Gabriel Bá, USA, 2019.
Shrek the Third playing cards
Characters from the 2007 film Shrek the Third, a DreamWorks Animation production.
Storia del Fascismo
Published by Il Meneghello, this pack provides a visual history of Fascism in Italy between 1919 and 1945.
Romeo and Juliet playing cards
Romeo and Juliet playing cards illustrated by Belgian artist Virginie Carquin 2016.
Jeu de cartes Armelle
Advertising pack designed by James Hodges for a company specialising in regional cakes and biscuits.
Mechanical Decks – Part 1
This article explores various mechanical decks used in magic, including the long-short principle in decks like Svengali and Mirage, as well as other unique cutting techniques.
Morgan-Greer Tarot
Based on the knowledge, wisdom and interpretation of Paul Foster Case and Arthur Edward Waite.
Jeanne d’Arc, “La pucelle d’Orléans”
Joan of Arc and her contemporaries in a colourful pack designed by Patrice Louis.
Louis De Poortere
Psychedelic designs promoting Louis De Poortere, a company selling carpets and rugs.
New Palladini Tarot
“The New Palladini Tarot” by David Palladini published by U.S. Games Inc., in 1996.
Costumes Alsaciens
Typical costumes and views of Alsace together with lists of the principal sights.
Das Nassauische Kartenspiel
Pack conceived by Berthold Conradi, commemorating the 700th anniversary of the granting of town rights to Idstein.
The Aquarian Tarot Deck
The Aquarian Tarot Deck illustrated by David Palladini, published by Morgan Press, Inc., 1970.
Jägerkarte Nr.465
Dondorf Jägerkarte Nr. 465 playing cards dedicated to the theme of hunting, c.1930.
Linweave Tarot
The Linweave Tarot is actually an elaborate set of paper samples from the Pulp, Paper and Board Division of Brown Company, New York.
The Pack of Positivity
Katie Abey’s rainbow-coloured designs using crazy animals to convey motivating phrases.
The Age of Dinosaurs playing cards
Dinosaurs from different ages and locations, with artwork by Virginijus Poshkus.
Dino Deck playing cards
A different dinosaur for each of the four suits, two printed in red and two in blue.
Historic Early Aviation
Reproductions of cigarette cards from 1910 on the subject of the early days of aviation.
Know your deplorables
Photographs of political and media figures associated with the Presidency of Donald Trump (2017-2021).
October 2023 27 Articles
Les “Œufs de Cartes” de Krasno
Egg-shaped cards created by Rodolfo Krasno employing photographic images by Michel Leclerc.
Jack-O’-Lantern Tarot
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by Adam Wintle
Giuliano Costa's Jack-O’-Lantern tarot blends Rider-Waite symbolism with the rich and atmospheric themes of Halloween.
On-line offsite data backup
On-line offsite data backup publicity playing cards produced by The Bunker, United Kingdom, c. 2004.
French Cartomancy cards, c.1830
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by Simon Wintle
French Cartomancy cards published by J. Gaudais; printed by Mansion, Paris, c.1830.
Commemorative Olympic Playing Cards
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by Ian Taylor
Commemorative Olympic Playing Cards produced by Waddingtons exclusively for Stanley Gibbons Antiquarian, 1980.
The Famous Dinosaurs Playing Cards
54 different dinosaurs, both large and small, illustrated by Cecilia Fitzsimons.
De Tarot in de herstelde orde
“De Tarot in de herstelde orde” (The Tarot in the restored order) a re-ordered Rider-Waite tarot deck.
Möbel-Spiel
Publicity pack for the East German furniture industry, with designs by Werner-Hans Schlegel.
Eclipse Comic playing cards (reproduction)
Eclipse Comic playing cards is a reproduction of the first transformation pack printed in the USA in 1876 by F.H. Lowerre.
Hand-painted and Silk-inlaid playing cards
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by Simon Wintle
Complete pack of 36 hand-painted and silk-inlaid playing cards with French suits made in Germany.
Early German playing cards
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by Simon Wintle
Some early examples of popular German playing cards from the XV and XVI centuries.
Les Montgolfières 1783-1983
Honouring the bicentenary of the Montgolfier brothers’ first balloon flights in 1783.
Schwarze Katze (or Gioco del Gatto Nero)
Reproduction of a 40-card transformation pack with designs by “WS”, adapted for the game of Black Cat.
Old West Guns
Old West Guns playing cards containing information about firearms from the Old West, USA.
Mario Testino playing cards
A selection of Mario Testino’s photographic work in various fields, notably fashion.
Clamcleats playing cards
Clamcleats playing cards for sailors designed by Celia Allison, New Zealand, 1986.
Jeu de cartes des Opéras romantiques
Costumes from four operas premiered at the Paris Opera between 1830 and 1840.
Around the world in 54 cards
“Around the world in 54 cards” hand-coloured transformation pack produced by Peter Wood, United Kingdom, 2008.
Disney Princess
Featuring Disney Princesses and Enchanting Tales in two sizes of pack made for Eastern Europe.
Hot-Air Balloons & Co.
Hot-air balloons and airships from the early days to 1988, with designs by S. Baraldi and F. Tacconi.