Y-ME playing cards
Works by 54 American artists in aid of a breast cancer charity.
As stated on the back of the box, “This deck of cards was created as part of “A Game of Chance”, a special exhibition to benefit the Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization. 54 well-known American artists were invited to create an interpretation of a specific playing card. “A Game of Chance” is a metaphor for the unknown risk all women face from breast cancer”. These are the words of Hollis Sigler (1948-2001), the artist who created the 9 of Diamonds and the back design and who herself died of breast cancer at the age of 53. The cards are all very different in style, with only a few having even a passing resemblance to traditional playing card designs. All of the contributing artists’ names are listed on one of the extra cards. See the box►
Above: Y-ME collaborative artists playing cards produced by the Printworks Gallery, Chicago, IL, USA, 1997. Printer unknown. 52 cards + 2 Jokers + 4 extra cards in tuck box. Size: 64 x 89 mm. © Copyright 1997 Printworks Gallery, Chicago.
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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