Aces

72: The Ace of Spades
In standard English packs the Ace of Spades is associated with decorative designs. This is a historical survey of why this should be.

73: Fakes, Forgeries and Tax Evasion
When there are official taxes to pay, people will find a way to avoid paying them - often illegally.

Art Nouveau Whist playing cards from a small Dutch factory
The factory probably only produced playing cards for a few years in the 1920's

Arthur Lee & Sons Ltd
Advertising deck produced for Arthur Lee and Sons Ltd of Sheffield by Thomas De la Rue around 1958.

Belgian Souvenir playing cards
made in Germany by C.L. Wüst

Brazil Pictorial Aces
Genoese pattern with Pictorial Aces for Brazil by Brepols, Turnhout, c.1920.

Brazil Scenic Aces
C. L. Wüst Scenic Aces for Brazil.

Copies of Wüst House pattern playing cards
both by Christian Heinrich Reuter of Nuremberg, Germany

De la Rue’s 125th anniversary
In around 1955 De la Rue introduced a new coloured joker and a series of aces of spades with a silhouette of Thomas de La Rue which coincided with their 125th anniversary

Decorated pip cards from C.L.Wüst
Several Wüst patience packs with special pip cards

EPCS November 1984 Newsletter Members Only
Garter Ace 1804-1828 • Beautiful Britain • The Queen of Diamonds (The English Court: Part 5) • De La Rue Stamps • Deakin's Political Playing Cards • Great Guns A Jaques Game • Gollywogg • The Soldier's Almanack

EPCS November 1989 Newsletter Members Only
Peace 1902 & 1918 • Anniversaries • The Game of Transport • Boer War Pack • Salmon & Gluckstein • H.M.S. Pinafore • Froth Blowers • Mount Egmont • Lake Matheson New Zealand • Happy Families Johnson Bros • Reynolds • De La Rue

Fake Blanchard Ace of Spades
Fake Blanchard Ace of Spades with court cards based on Hall.

Isle of Man playing cards by De La Rue & Goodall
Two different versions of Isle of Man playing cards from 1870 and 1914.

Isle of Man playing cards made by Glénisson of Turnhout
Two souvenir packs with different court cards made by Glénisson for the Isle of Man, c.1880.

Isle of Man souvenir playing cards by Goodall & Son.
Two antique packs with scenic aces illustrating places on the Isle of Man.

Modern Aces of Spades
Many modern aces of spades are anonymous so that, in the absence of any other information, the collector has difficulty deciding who made them.
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Oude Kunst (Old Art) playing cards with Wüst courts
made for export to the Netherlands.

Playing cards for the Bombay Market
An interesting pack of playing cards with illustrated Indian aces made "Specially for the Bombay Market", c.1915.

Reykjavik Athletic Club playing cards
made in Iceland