AOL 9.0 playing cards
Simple yet distinctive designs in red and black promoting the UK launch of AOL 9.0.
In 2004, America Online (AOL) launched a multi-media campaign – including this pack of cards – to support the launch of AOL 9.0 in the UK. At first glance, one might think that this pack was aimed at the partially sighted: simple designs in red and black only, with the value of each card written out in full. The courts (the same in each suit) have the feel of crude old woodblock designs, while the remaining cards simply show a large number (or letter A for the ace), a suit-sign and a word. The exceptions are the 9s, where ‘AOL 9.0’ replaces the number 9. There are two black jokers and one red one. On the reverse is a large block of colour (yellow, shading down to orange), with a logo and ‘AOL 9.0’ beneath. No, this is not a beautiful pack, but it is unusual and distinctive and quite hard to find.
A Spanish-suited «America Online Beach» promotional deck was published in Argentina in 2006.
Above: AOL 9.0 playing cards probably made by Carta Mundi, c.2004. 52 cards + 3 Jokers (2 black, 1 red). Size: 56 x 87 mm.
There is a version of Rummy in tile form, which could just possibly have been the inspiration for this set.
By Roddy Somerville
France • Member since May 31, 2022
Roddy started collecting stamps on his 8th birthday. In 1977 he joined the newly formed playing-card department at Stanley Gibbons in London before setting up his own business in Edinburgh four years later. His collecting interests include playing cards, postcards, stamps (especially playing cards on stamps) and sugar wrappers. He is a Past President of the Scottish Philatelic Society, a former Chairman of the IPCS, a Past Master of the Worshipful Company of Makers of Playing Cards and Curator of the WCMPC’s collection of playing cards. He lives near Toulouse in France.
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