Aces Playing Cards (2nd edition)
‘Aces Playing Cards’ collaborative art deck published by Zeixs, Cologne (2nd edition).
Each card in this pack was individually created by a designer, artist or illustrator in their own distinct style and assembled and published by Zeixs (Cologne) in 2012 in a limited edition of 999 packs. The pack is actually the 2nd edition, and includes 54 different artworks (on 52 playing cards + 2 jokers). This pack is available in two versions: Deluxe Edition in a special tin and Light Edition in a foil laminated cardboard box.
Unfortunately, there is no separate listing of the individual artists involved, but some of the cards are signed: Pete Fowler (ace of spades); Jorge Alderete (5 of spades); Gary Taxali (8 of spades); Nod Young (9 of spades); Yury Ustsinau (king of spades).
Above: cards from ‘Aces Playing Cards’ collaborative art deck published by Zeixs, Cologne (2nd edition), 2012.
NOTE: Zeixs (Germany) was founded in 2007 by the publishing house Feierabend Unique Books and is essentially a graphic design company – from typography, illustration and photography to animation and industrial design. See also: 52Aces website►
By Peter Burnett
Member since July 27, 2022
I graduated in Russian and East European Studies from Birmingham University in 1969. It was as an undergraduate in Moscow in 1968 that I stumbled upon my first 3 packs of “unusual” playing cards which fired my curiosity and thence my life-long interest. I began researching and collecting cards in the early 1970s, since when I’ve acquired over 3,330 packs of non-standard cards, mainly from North America, UK and Western Europe, and of course from Russia and the former communist countries.
Following my retirement from the Bodleian Library in Dec. 2007 I took up a new role as Head of Library Development at the International Network for the Availability of Scientific Publications (INASP) to support library development in low-income countries. This work necessitated regular training visits to many sub-Saharan African countries and also further afield, to Vietnam, Nepal and Bangladesh – all of which provided rich opportunities to further expand my playing card collection.
Since 2019 I’ve been working part-time in the Bodleian Library where I’ve been cataloguing the bequest of the late Donald Welsh, founder of the English Playing Card Society.
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