Secret Magic Cards

‘Secret Magic Cards’ published by Hanky Panky Toys Thailand Ltd, 2006

Hanky Panky [www.hankypanky-toys.com] has been making magic for children for over fifty years, aiding the development of hand to eye coordination, improving presentational skills and helping build a child’s confidence. These ‘Secret Magic Cards’ have specially marked backs in order to read the face of the card from the back, as shown in the illustrations below. See: the box→

Above: ‘Secret Magic Cards’ published by Hanky Panky Toys Thailand Ltd, 2006. The cards are made in China and have specially marked backs in order to read the face of the card from the back, as explained in the instruction booklet (shown below).

Above: standard court cards from ‘Secret Magic Cards’ published by Hanky Panky Toys Thailand Ltd, 2006. All images courtesy Matt Probert.

By Matt Probert

Member since March 02, 2012

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I 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.