‘Air Rummy’ playing cards published by Air Malta, late 1990s. The cards are a variation on standard playing cards using coloured indices instead of suits. The aces and court cards all carry the same images across suits but the pip cards have photographs promoting Malta as a tourist destination. The four jokers are indicated by a Maltese cross in each corner. See the Rules►
Above: ‘Air Rummy’ playing cards published by Air Malta, late 1990s. The cards are cheaply made with square cut corners, suggesting local manufacture rather than foreign. Four Jokers and four “rules” cards are included, carrying rules for ‘Air Rummy’ in English, German, French and Italian.
By Matt Probert
Member since March 02, 2012
View ArticlesI have adored playing cards since before I was seven years old, and was brought up on packs of Waddington's No 1. As a child I was fascinated by the pictures of the court cards.
Over the next fifty years I was seduced by the artwork in Piatnik's packs and became a collector of playing cards.
Seeking more information about various unidentified packs I discovered the World of Playing Cards website and became an enthusiastic contributor researching and documenting different packs of cards.
I describe my self as a playing card archaeologist, using detective work to identify and date obscure packs of cards discovered in old houses, flea markets and car boot sales.
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