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Hollywood Greats playing cards

Published February 19, 2023 Updated February 19, 2023

18 stars in black and white from the Golden Age of Hollywood.

1985 United KingdomMovies & FilmWaddingtons

A semi-caricatural style has been used to depict the 18 stars in this pack. All have large heads and small bodies. Some are better drawn than others, the outlines and facial features being rather weak in some cases. The designs are in black and white throughout. An Oscar statuette is featured on the back against a red background. Overall, the pack leaves the impression of having been put together in rather a hurry. It was popular enough at the time of issue, but better and more imaginative packs featuring Hollywood stars have been produced in the years since 1985. See the box

Hollywood Greats playing cards printed and made in West Germany for Waddingtons Games Ltd, 198 Hollywood Greats playing cards printed and made in West Germany for Waddingtons Games Ltd, 198 Hollywood Greats playing cards printed and made in West Germany for Waddingtons Games Ltd, 198

Above: Hollywood Greats playing cards printed and made in West Germany (by A.S.S.?) for Waddingtons Games Ltd, 1985. 52 cards + 2 Jokers + 1 blank card in tuck box. Size: 57 x 89 mm. Copyright © 1985 Waddingtons Games Ltd.

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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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