Transformation c.1880
Transformation playing cards hand-drawn on a pack manufactured by Hunt’s Playing Card Manufacturing Co Ltd c.1880

Hand-drawn Transformation c.1880
Transformation playing cards hand-drawn on a pack manufactured by Hunt’s Playing Card Manufacturing Co Ltd c.1880, a very nice example of the full scope of what was a popular pastime 150 years ago. Transformed packs often contain original scenes and ideas, inspired by topics popular in their day. In this example many of the transformations consist of converting the suit pips into repeating objects, such as insects or flowers, but there are also some fully integrated scenes.
The artist appears to have made several similar packs, perhaps attempting to create a better version (see other example here). It is often the case that practice improves the artist’s hand who then reworks her ideas, returning to make the deck a second time at a later date. It can be seen that the artwork has not been completed in this instance as several cards are untouched.







Above: the original pack of cards was probably made by Hunt’s Playing Card Manufacturing Co Ltd in c.1875 but transformed a few years later. All images courtesy Stuart McEwan.
It is often the case that practice improves the artist’s hand who then reworks her ideas, returning to make the deck a second time: see another example here→
Thanks to Barney Townshend for additional notes.
REFERENCES
Goodall, Michael H: Minor British Playing Card Makers of the Nineteenth Century, (vol.3) Joseph Hunt & Sons, Woking, 1997

By Barney Townshend
Member since October 06, 2015
Retired Airline Pilot, interested in: Transformation Playing Cards, Karl Gerich and Elaine Lewis. Secretary of the EPCS. Treasurer of the IPCS.
Trending Articles
Popular articles from the past 28 days
Related Articles

Woodblock and Stencil Joker
A limited edition art print of the 1984 woodblock joker.

Woodblock and Stencil Jack of Clubs
A limited edition art print of the Jack of Clubs 1984 woodblock joker.

Woodblock and Stencil Queen of Clubs
A limited edition art print of the Queen of Clubs 1984 woodblock joker.

Woodblock and Stencil Jack of Hearts
A limited edition art print of the Jack of Hearts 1984 woodblock joker.

75: Early American cards
An overview of some of the early cards made in the United States.

Murphy Varnish pack
Reproduction of the 1883 Murphy Varnish transformation pack, USA, 2019

The Pack of Positivity
Katie Abey’s rainbow-coloured designs using crazy animals to convey motivating phrases.

On-line offsite data backup
On-line offsite data backup publicity playing cards produced by The Bunker, United Kingdom, c. 2004....

The Famous Dinosaurs Playing Cards
54 different dinosaurs, both large and small, illustrated by Cecilia Fitzsimons.

Commemorative Olympic Playing Cards
Commemorative Olympic Playing Cards produced by Waddingtons exclusively for Stanley Gibbons Antiquar...

Dorset Dialect Trails
‘Dorset Dialect Trails’ playing cards, United Kingdom, 2015.

Eclipse Comic playing cards (reproduction)
Eclipse Comic playing cards is a reproduction of the first transformation pack printed in the USA in...

Schwarze Katze (or Gioco del Gatto Nero)
Reproduction of a 40-card transformation pack with designs by “WS”, adapted for the game of Black Ca...

Clamcleats playing cards
Clamcleats playing cards for sailors designed by Celia Allison, New Zealand, 1986.

Around the world in 54 cards
“Around the world in 54 cards” hand-coloured transformation pack produced by Peter Wood, United King...

The Journey
‘The Journey’ limited edition playing cards produced by Peter Wood, UK, 2008.

Pretty Frills
‘Pretty Frills’ playing cards promoting curtain and blind accessories.

The Origin of Patience Games in English
Jessel’s Bibliography of works in English on Playing Cards and Gaming describes “The first book on P...

The Broons and Oor Wullie playing cards
Characters from The Broons and Oor Wullie comic strips on their 75th anniversary.

History of London illustrated playing cards
A catalogue in 54 cards of some of the treasures held within the Museum of London collections.

Ladbroke Sporting Casino
Ladbroke Sporting Casino caricature cartoon playing cards, U.K, c.2006.

The Evolution of Bezique boxed sets, 1869 to 1990
The first company to register Bezique materials with Stationers’ Hall was Josh Reynolds & Son in Sep...

Goodall 1915-1916 Sample Book
Complete contents of a sample book by Goodall & Sons

Goodall 1916 Rockleigh Sample Book
Complete contents of a sample book by Goodall

Goodall 1879-1880 Sample Book
Complete contents of a sample book by Goodall & Sons

De La Rue 1932-1933 Sample Book of Advertising cards
Complete contents of a sample book of advertising cards by De La Rue

A Gardener’s Labyrinth
Photographs of flowers, herbs and vegetables by leading photographer Tessa Traeger.

Jonathan Hocus Pocus
Two sets of conjuring cards published by G. Martin, 6 Great St Thomas Apostle, London, early 19th ce...

Henley-on-Thames playing cards
Calendar events and visitor attractions to be found in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire.

De La Rue Pocket Guides
The 19th Century saw the production, by all of the major companies, of pocket guides or “mini-books”...

National Railway Museum
National Railway Museum with drawings by Stuart Black, United Kingdom, 1993.

Will’s Cigarettes and Auction Bridge
In 1926 Will’s issued a set of 25 cigarette cards on Auction Bridge, presenting a range of hands ill...

The Club Series by G. Bell & Sons
George Bell & Sons produced ‘The Club Series’ of books each specialising in one or more of the popul...

Hoyle v Foster: whose name should we remember?
Hoyle’s name is associated with the rules by which many games are played, particularly card games B...

Cribbage Patience or Cribbage Squares
Cribbage Patience or Cribbage Squares, produced by Messrs Edward Mortimer, Halifax and London.

Hoyle and his Legacy
Edmond Hoyle (1672-1769) was an English writer who made his name by writing on whist and a selection...

Glorious Scotland
54 photographic views of Scotland by Duncan I. McEwan.

A New Look at the Evolution of Whist Markers and Gaming Counters
This article aims to illustrate the evolution of whist and gaming counters from the 18th century to ...

Whist writers and pseudonyms
Why did so many early writers about whist and other card games feel the need to write under a pseudo...

Whist marker boxes
The Camden Whist marker was being advertised by Goodall and son in 1872 as a new product.

Bridge Markers and bridge scoring methods
Bridge Markers and bridge scoring methods 1900-1930

Pinochle
I have always been intrigued by the game Pinochle.

Mystery Objects
I need help in identifying the purpose of this particular piece of card-playing kit.

The Undeck
‘The Undeck’ with artwork by Ash Loydon, produced by Cultzilla, United Kingdom, c. 2018.