Dino Deck playing cards
A different dinosaur for each of the four suits, two printed in red and two in blue.
Dinosaurs hold an enduring fascination for all ages but particularly the young. This pack was probably aimed at youngsters to encourage them to play cards. The traditional suits of hearts, diamonds, clubs and spades have been replaced by Triceratops, Brontosaurus, Pteranodon and Tyrannosaurus Rex, two coloured red and two coloured blue, in silhouette. The appropriate number of dinosaurs appears on each of the numeral cards. On the court cards, the central image becomes progressively larger, going from Jack to King. The Joker is amusingly renamed “Jokersaurus”. See the box►
Above: Dino Deck playing cards, 52 cards + 2 “Jokersaurus” cards in tuck box. Size: 57.5 x 88.5 mm. Published in the USA (?), 1991. Maker unknown. © Copyright 1991 by Roger Spachman.
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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