Junior Playing Cards
Child-friendly versions of standard English pattern cards designed by Louie Mantia, Jr.
Designer Louie Mantia Jr’s aim in creating these cards was to reinterpret the standard English pack, thus introducing playing cards to new audiences, notably youngsters (hence the name “Junior”). It is fair to say that he has succeeded in keeping traditional elements while making the courts less forbidding: they are both ‘friendly’ and colourful. Only the axes on the King of Diamonds and the Jack of Hearts look somewhat superfluous, hanging in the air as they do. The black suits are now blue and the Ace of Clubs (rather than the Ace of Spades) carries some supplementary information. In the blue-backed pack, the extra cards are two Mage cards and two Flag cards, while in the red-backed pack the extra cards are two Fool cards and two Flag cards.
Above: Junior Playing Cards made by USPC Co., Erlanger, KY, USA, 2021. Blue pack: 52 cards + 2 Mage cards + 2 Flag cards in tuck box. Red pack: 52 cards + 2 Fool cards + 2 Flag cards in tuck box. Size: 63 x 88 mm. © 2021. Junior is a registered trademark of Mantia LLC.
“Quite fun, as they’ve kept to the traditional postures, though the queens are a bit samey” - Ken Lodge
• More information: Louie Mantia, Jr and Junior Playing Cards►
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.
Activity for Junior Playing Cards
Sign in to comment or save this article.
Related Articles
New York City souvenir
New York City souvenir playing cards with 53 different views of interest, USA, 1915.
Nile Fortune cards
Nile Fortune cards no.68x published by the United States Playing Card Company, USA, 1904.
Seaboard Air Line Railway souvenir playing cards
Seaboard Air Line Railway souvenir playing cards made by USPC Co., USA, c1910.
Playboy playing cards
52 different magazine covers from the first 50 years of Playboy.
Wild West playing cards
Famous lawmen, gamblers, outlaws and others from the American Wild West.
Bicycle Tragic Royalty
Modified courts rendered tragic and somewhat scary.
Virginia Slims
Tasteful advertising pack promoting Virginia Slims cigarettes.
Hawaiian Souvenir playing cards
Hawaiian Souvenir playing cards, 1901.
Queen High Equality Deck
A women’s liberation deck described as “A New Deck For A New Deal”.
Bicycle Heritage
Bicycle Heritage playing cards by the United States Playing Card Company, 2012
Atlantic Playing Card Co
Atlantic Playing Card Co., Inc. promoted Bridge Ensemble boxes and companion accessories.
35: More Design Copies
Here I want to take another widely copied design and see how individual variation by the copier can ...
The Black Book of Cards
The Black Book of Cards by UnCommon Beat
No.500 Playing Cards
No.500 Playing Cards published by U.S.P.C.C., c.1910
Stage Playing Cards, 1908
This beautiful deck features an oval half-tone photo of a theatre star on each card, many of them le...
Norwood #85, c.1909
The deck features a colourful Ace of Spades and Joker, decorated Aces, unique courts and two beautif...
Panama Souvenir Playing Cards
Several editions of Panama Souvenir Playing Cards were issued by the USPCC between 1908 - 1926. The ...
Congress No.606
Congress Playing Cards were first produced by the Russell & Morgan Company in 1881 as the finest and...
The United States Playing Card Company
Over the years the pressures of competition and other market forces have led to many smaller manufac...
Naipes No. 71 Los Leones
Naipes No. 71 Los Leones by The United States Playing Card Co., c.1900.
Most Popular
Our top articles from the past 60 days
En Chen Chen
06 July 2026, 18:06SavedSaved this article to En Chen Chen's Collection