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.
Master of the Banderoles
Playing Cards by the Master of the Banderoles, one of the earliest professional printmakers, c.1470.
Mermaid Queen
Mermaid Queen playing cards, from a series of four decks designed by John Littleboy, 2008
Metastasis Transformation Playing Cards, 1811
First published by S & J Fuller, Rathbone Place, London, September 1st 1811. This Nixon-Fuller deck was the first English deck now commonly known as transformation playing cards - the first use of the term "transformation".
Murphy Varnish pack
Reproduction of the 1883 Murphy Varnish transformation pack, USA, 2019
Nine art-nouveau transformation playing cards
by an unknown artist
On The Cards
A Motley Pack - transformation playing cards & ‘On The Cards’ book facsimile published by Sunish Chabba, 2019.
Pack of Dogs
Pack of Dogs playing cards designed by John Littleboy. Every card tells a story...
Palladin
Palladin Parlour & Playing Cards by Laura Sutherland, published by Palladin Paperworks, Santa Cruz CA., 1983.
Pips in Pictures
‘Pips in Pictures’ imaginatively transformed playing cards by Jennifer Gaudion, 2001.
Pips in Proverbs
Wonderful ‘Pips in Proverbs’ playing cards created by Jennifer Gaudion, United Kingdom, 2009.
Renaissance Playing Cards
Renaissance Playing Cards by Maxim Hurwicz, showing 54 different drawings spanning the years 1066 to 1400.
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.
South German Engraver
Conforming to an archaic format of 52 cards with banner 10s, female 'Sotas', horsemen and kings, the pack is of interest on account of a number of other packs with similar characteristics surviving elsewhere, suggesting an archaic variant of the Spanish-suited pack.
Teddy Bear
Teddy Bear playing cards designed by Peter Wood for Lyons Quickbrew Tea.
Teddy Bear Pack
The Teddy Bear pack of playing cards created by Peter Wood, 1994.
Thackeray Transformation Cards
Transformation playing cards by William Makepeace Thackeray, 1876.
The Cartoonists' Pack
Semi-transformation pack created by four famous British cartoonists.
The Deck
The Deck semi-transformation playing cards, USA, 1983.
The Key to the Kingdom
“The Key to the Kingdom”, an enchanted deck of illuminated playing cards designed by Tony Meeuwissen based around traditional rhymes and verses.
The Kiss, 1808
‘Aphorisms on the Kiss’ published by C. A. Solbrig, Leipzig, 1808.