Transformation Playing Cards
The best-known fantasies with playing cards are the ‘Transformation’ cards. Hand-drawing ‘transformations’ onto a pack of ordinary playing cards, with the suit symbols forming part of the overall composition, became a popular pastime 200 years ago and a test of skill in drawing. A great deal of ingenuity is required in their design. The earliest printed sets were published at the start of the 19th century, often published in the form of an almanac or sometimes known as ‘metastasis’, and these became a fashionable and entertaining novelty.
In the strict sense of the word ‘Transformation’ the pips should be in their standard positions and form part of, or fit into, the overll image portrayed on the card.
EPCS November 1994 Newsletter Members Only
Christmas • WW1 • Chinese Gaming Counters • Channel Tunnel • Isle of Man • History of Carreras • Tobacco • British Empire • Smiths Potato Crisps • Bezeque Markers • Circus Transformation
EPCS November 1997 Newsletter Members Only
Tribute to Diana Princess of Wales • Battle of Cambrai 1917 • Goodall Transformation • BEZIQUE Music • Golden Wedding of The Queen & Duke of Edinburgh • Jackspack • Cotswold Happy Families • I can't believe it's not butter • Animal Snap • Hall & Son • Tit-Bits • LEXICON (French Edition) • Dickens Mystery • Jazz • Floral • Radiant • Game of Animals • Isle of Man (Part 10) • William Kimberley Royal National Patriotic • Millennium Projects • Waddington American War of Independence
EPCS November 1999 Newsletter Members Only
City Imperial Volunteers: Boer War • Hand Decorated Transformation Pack • Story Behind the Card: Bonallack & Sons • Discovering Nursery Rhymes: John Cooper • Nursery Rhyme Snap: Mo Mohile • Films and Fiction: November 1932 • Play Your Cards Right: Neil Darbyshire • Colchester: Nursery Rhyme Connection • New Issues: Queen Elizabeth Special Aces • English Standard Card Manufacturers: Hall & Bancks • The Realm • Goodall's Federation Playing Cards • Alfred the Great's Grave
EPCS November 2005 Newsletter Members Only
Top Trumps • Clifford Toys / Tricklico • Blackpool Souvenir • Squiggles • Esquire • Alberto Vargas • A Find? • Early Playing Cards • Fortune Telling Cards • Court Fools & Jesters (cont) • The Rolls Razor • The Virtue of Princes • Bovril Poster Snap • Defenders of the Empire • Waddington Catalogue 1981 • Tricards
EPCS Transformation
The English Playing Card Society's 10th Anniversary Transformation Playing Cards designed and produced by Karl Gerich, 1993.
Eroticartes
Eroticartes with drawings by Pino Zac, 1983.
Fabrica de Cigarrillos Roldan y Cia, Lima, Peru
The design of the figures is very agile with excellent colour harmony and execution.
H. F. Müller
Transformation playing cards by H. F. Müller, Vienna, 1809
Hand-Painted Transformation, c.1800-20
An early 19th century set of hand-painted transformation playing cards depicting contemporary scenes from Georgian society
Henley-on-Thames playing cards
Calendar events and visitor attractions to be found in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire.
Hidden Mickeys
“HiddenMickeys” by Peter Wood
Hustling Joe
Hustling Joe himself appears on the Ace of Spaces dressed in red.
Inky-Dinky Playing Cards
A series of four decks designed by John Littleboy.
Jeanne l’Hachette
Jeanne l’Hachette reprint of 19th century transformation deck, Denmark, 1976.
John Nixon Scrapbook, 1803
Transformation proofs from the John Nixon Scrapbook.
Joseph Bardou & Fils cigarette papers
Delightful pack advertising Joseph Bardou & Fils cigarette papers for the Philippines.
Kitten Club
From Empresses to King Cats and One-Eyed Jacks, every game is a pageant of unforgettable cats, each with a story to tell...
La-Tee-Da transformation playing cards
Facsimile edition of ‘La-Tee-Da’ transformation playing cards, originally made in 1865 by Dean & Son of London, republished by F.G. & Co. in 2004.
Litografías Industrias Madriguera
Pictorial trade cards were becoming popular throughout Europe so that tea, tobacco, chocolate or even beef extract were the commodities most associated with beautifully lithographed insert cards.
Marlow playing cards
Visitor attractions and businesses to be found in Marlow, Buckinghamshire.