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2023 100 Articles
July 2023 32 Articles
Jeu Tour de France 89 (Domex)
Cyclists from the Domex-Weinmann team who took part in the 1989 Tour de France.
Psychology, Numerology and playing cards
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by Ana Cortez
Numerology assigns significance to individual digits and their combinations, considering them as symbols with inherent meanings.
Cribbage Patience or Cribbage Squares
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by Tony Hall
Cribbage Patience or Cribbage Squares, produced by Messrs Edward Mortimer, Halifax and London.
Hoyle and his Legacy
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by Tony Hall
Edmond Hoyle (1672-1769) was an English writer who made his name by writing on whist and a selection of other games.
Handmade Ganjifa Birds Playing Cards
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by Ian Taylor
This set of Ganjifa cards is a beautiful example of traditional cards from India.
Tík Táck vodka
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by Ian Taylor
A brightly coloured pack promoting “Tík Táck” cane vodka from Destileria La Central S.A. in El Salvador.
A New Look at the Evolution of Whist Markers and Gaming Counters
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by Tony Hall
This article aims to illustrate the evolution of whist and gaming counters from the 18th century to the 20th.
Languedoc pattern
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by Simon Wintle
The old Languedoc pattern was known at the beginning of the seventeenth century, if not before.
Newtropolis and the Fantastic Fur
Newtropolis and the Fantastic Fur: Heroes vs. Villains playing cards illustrated by Peter Wood, 2015.
P. Buscaglia: Spanish-suited cards
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by Simon Wintle
Spanish-suited cards published by P. Buscaglia, Mele & Genova.
Whist writers and pseudonyms
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by Tony Hall
Why did so many early writers about whist and other card games feel the need to write under a pseudonym?
Whist marker boxes
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by Tony Hall
The Camden Whist marker was being advertised by Goodall and son in 1872 as a new product.
Bridge Markers and bridge scoring methods
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by Tony Hall
Bridge Markers and bridge scoring methods 1900-1930
Pierre Roiné Aluette
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by Simon Wintle
Archaic form of Aluette published by Pierre Roiné, Nantes, c.1785.
Dessoris
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by Simon Wintle
Spanish-suited cards by Dessoris, Perpignan, which anticipate the French Catalan pattern.
Jeu d'aluette by Fossorier, Amar et Cie
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by Simon Wintle
A very distinctive 48-card Spanish-suited pack is used to play Aluette.
Cartes Catalanes by Fossorier, Amar et Cie
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by Simon Wintle
‘Cartes Catalanes’ published by Fossorier, Amar et Cie (Paris)
Wagner’s “Ring” playing cards
Wagner’s “Ring” playing cards, with illustrations by Sir Arthur Rackham, published by Prospero Art, USA, 2010.
Parisian Spanish pattern by Fossorier, Amar et Cie
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by Simon Wintle
‘Parisian’ Spanish pattern published by Fossorier, Amar et Cie (Paris), c.1902.
“Abd-el-Kader” by Fossorier, Amar et Cie for Algeria
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by Simon Wintle
Spanish National pattern produced by Fossorier, Amar et Cie (Paris) for Algeria, around 1902.
B.P. Grimaud pack for Bolivia
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by Simon Wintle
Spanish-suited pack made in France for sale in Bolivia, c.1880.
Famous Pirates (2006)
Famous Pirates playing cards with artworks, prints, artefacts & pirate sayings, USA, 2006.
Le carte di Tex
Characters from the famous Italian comic book series, Tex, created by Gian Luigi Bonelli and Aurelio Galleppini.
June 2023 53 Articles
Hawaiian playing cards
Hawaiian playing cards in the style of classic Hawaiian wood carvings, USA, 2015.
Foster’s Self-Playing Whist Cards
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by Tony Hall
In 1890 R. F. Foster published the first edition of “Foster’s Whist Manual” which was to become the bible for serious whist players for the next two decades.
Mystery Objects
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by Tony Hall
I need help in identifying the purpose of this particular piece of card-playing kit.
Florentine pattern variant
Non-standard designs by Chiari of Florence with some of the features of a traditional Florentine pattern pack.
Spanish Political pack
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by Simon Wintle
Satirical playing cards manufactured by Francar y Cía depicting political situation, Barcelona, 1872.
Carte da gioco anticomuniste del Comitato civico
Anti-Communist propaganda pack with satirical designs by Benito Jacovitti.
Bicycle EveRydAy zomBIES
Bicycle “EveRydAy zomBIES” playing cards with artwork by Rob Sacchetto, USA, 2013.
José Serrano
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by Simon Wintle
‘Raimundo García’ pattern playing cards produced in Pamplona by José Serano, c.1875.
What can we learn from mini-booklet advertisements?
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by Tony Hall
Over the years I have collected a large number of mini-booklets and pocket guides offering rules and play guidance on a wide variety of games.
Bertschinger y Codina
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by Simon Wintle
Fantasy Spanish-suited playing cards by Bertschinger y Codina (Barcelona), c.1850.
José Cumplido
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by Simon Wintle
Raimundo García pattern produced by José Cumplido in Madrid, dated 1860 on the four of coins.
Bicycle Blue Collar / White Collar playing cards
Bicycle Blue Collar / White Collar playing cards, USA, 2014.
Juan Humanes y Cía
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by Simon Wintle
Raimundo García pattern published by Juan Humanes y Cía, Madrid, 1879.
Viuda de Gombau e Hijos
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by Simon Wintle
Spanish-suited pack in the Raimundo García pattern produced in Madrid by Viuda de Gombau e Hijos, 1882.
Vicente Gombau y Labad
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by Simon Wintle
Elegant fantasy designs by Vicente Gombau y Labad (Madrid), 1861.
Bicycle Zombie playing cards
Bicycle Zombie playing cards with hints on how to survive a zombie attack, USA, 2012.
Bicycle Stained glass playing cards
Bicycle Stained glass playing cards adorned as multi-coloured stained glass, USA, c. 2018.
García y Boyer
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by Simon Wintle
Spanish-suited pack in the ‘Raimundo García’ pattern produced by García y Boyer, Igualada, c.1880.
Nueva Baraja Taurina
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by Simon Wintle
'Nueva Baraja Taurina' designed by Pedro Maldonado, Madrid, c.1885.
Bicycle Tattoo Golden Edition
Bicycle Tattoo Golden Edition created by Phoenix Playing Cards of Toronto, Canada, 2014.
Bicycle Elves & Orcs
Bicycle ‘Elves & Orcs’ playing cards illustrated by Nathanael Iwata, USA, 2013.
Bicycle Robocycle
Bicycle Robocycle playing cards with quirky robotic illustrations by Duct Tape & Glitter for Theory 11.
Amorcillos
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by Simon Wintle
‘Amorcillos’ (Cupids), a masterpiece from the golden age of Spanish playing cards by Clemente Roxas, Madrid, 1790.
Fashion costume pack by O. Gibert
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by Simon Wintle
Elegant fashion costume deck published by O. Gibert, Paris c.1860.
South American Costumes
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by Simon Wintle
Costumes of people of Brazil, Peru and Mexico, with views of Rio de Janeiro on the aces.
Bicycle Flight playing cards
Bicycle Flight ‘Airplane’ and ‘Airship’ playing cards, homage to aviation, 2014.
Félix Solesio e Hijos
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by Simon Wintle
Félix Solesio e Hijos, Fábrica de Macharaviaya, Spanish National pattern for West Indies, 1801.
Félix Solesio e Hijos
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by Simon Wintle
Félix Solesio e Hijos - Real Fábrica de Madrid - Spanish National pattern for Venezuela
Bicycle Panthera playing cards
Bicycle Panthera playing cards designed by Juniardi Satyanagara, USA, 2015.
Bicycle Ancient Machine playing cards
Bicycle Ancient Machine playing cards designed by concept artist Juniardi Satyanagara, USA, 2015.
Four Empires - Clemente Roxas
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by Simon Wintle
‘Four Empires’ playing cards produced by Clemente Roxas, c.1805.
Llombart Costume Pack
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by Simon Wintle
Military-style costume pack made by Anton Llombart, Barcelona, 1815.
Clemente Roxas double-ended Spanish pack
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by Simon Wintle
Double-ended Spanish-suited playing cards published by Clemente de Roxas in Madrid, 1814.
Llombart pattern
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by Simon Wintle
The Llombart pattern originated in Spain during the early 19th century.
Juan de Brugada
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by Simon Wintle
Spanish National pattern by Juan de Brugada e hijo, Real Fábrica de Madrid, 1821.
Infirrera
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by Simon Wintle
Italo-Portuguese-suited cards by Andrea Infirrera with the arms of Malta, 1693.
Cartas Portuguezas
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by Simon Wintle
Portuguese pattern playing cards published in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, late 19th century.
Portuguese-suited cards
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by Simon Wintle
Portuguese-suited cards with dragon aces, made in Italy, 1613.
Jeu de cartes abécédaire
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by Simon Wintle
An educational card game designed by F. Séré and published by Lithographie Musicale de Boboeuf, Paris 1840.
Antoine de Logiriera
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by Simon Wintle
Archaic Spanish-suited playing cards published in Toulouse by Antoine de Logiriera (1495-1518).
Des Quatre Parties du Monde
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by Simon Wintle
Four Corners of the World fantasy playing cards by Daveluy, Bruges, Belgium, 1875-1880.
Bavarian pattern by Ernst Jegel
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by Simon Wintle
Bavarian pattern published by Ernst Jegel, Nuremberg, late 19th C.
May 2023 15 Articles
Pomeranian Tarot
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by Simon Wintle
A Pomeranian Tarot deck with etchings by Georg Pommer published by Conrad Jegel, 1852.
Conrad Jegel proof sheets
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by Simon Wintle
Two uncut German-suited proof sheets by Conrad Jegel, Nuremberg.
Fantasy Bavarian pack
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by Simon Wintle
An early Bavarian-style deck by Johann Conrad Jegel, Nürnberg, Germany , c.1835.
Jean Noblet Tarot de Marseille
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by Simon Wintle
Jean Noblet: the oldest known ‘Tarot de Marseille’ deck, Paris, c.1650.
The Parisian Tarot
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by Simon Wintle
The “Parisian Tarot”, early 1600s, with imagery and design synthesizing several influences.
Jeu de Cartomancie pour l’amusement des Dames
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by Simon Wintle
Early French Cartomancy deck "for the amusement of Ladies" but also referred to as "Jeu divinatoire révolutionnaire", 1788.
The Presidents playing cards
The Presidents playing cards first published by Arcturus LLC in 2007, reprinted in 2009.
Joseph Bardou & Fils cigarette papers
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by Simon Wintle
Delightful pack advertising Joseph Bardou & Fils cigarette papers for the Philippines.
Aluette by Dieudonné Jeune, Orléans, c.1850
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by Simon Wintle
Aluette game by Fabrique Dieudonné Jeune, Orléans, for Spanish market, c.1850.
U.S. Presidents playing cards
U.S. Presidents Bicycle playing cards designed by Johnny Whaam, USA, 2015
Presidents of the United States
‘Presidents of the United States’ playing cards published by PostCardusa of Florida after 2009.
