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Games & Print Services Limited, of Canvey Island, Essex, are leading producers of playing cards and card games in the UK.

The characteristics of the cards are perfectionism in every aspect of production, since several years' research has gone into producing the highest quality playing cards.

The alignment of the images, the court designs, the indexes and even the final varnish have all been subjected to rigorous trial and error before finally being given approval.

Games & Print Services now offer a choice of court designs, as well as different sized indexes or pips. Traditional or Modern English court styles are available, Dutch courts or customised faces, with standard or jumbo index, two or four pips, silver or gold edges as required.

Above top: early Games & Print Services pack, showing small bridge indexes and 'modern' English court. Games & Print Services subsequently redesigned the indexes and now have a special typeface for this purpose, which can be seen in the bottom example, showing traditional courts. The jokers have also been re-drawn without the outer border, and the Ace of Spades has a © symbol because of an attempted infringement.

Above: early Games & Print Services advertising pack (1997), for a London-based firm of solicitors. The courts are 'modern' English, as shown above.

The above advertising playing cards have standard traditional English courts and jokers. The ones shown below are non-standard, examples of Games & Prints' bespoke design service.

Above: Special pack for Axminster Carpets, Axminster, Devon. Note the non-typical indexes.

Above: Special pack for Latibær, with jumbo-sized indexes.

Games & Print Services also produce a wide range of card games, tarot cards, collector cards and other gaming accessories.

Cards illustrated above: The Fool, The Moon, The Wheel of Fortune and The World from Russell Grant's Astrology Club Tarot, published in 1999.

Above: some examples from the extensive range of game cards produced under licence by Games & Print Services. The Monopoly game has Newcastle on Tyne street names.

Cards are printed on duplex, multi-layered playing card board, and come with a smooth, a textured or a linen finish. To visit Games & Print Services' own website, where the Jokers and all the court card designs are shown, click on Links and then select the link to their site.

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