Archives
2013 • January
Triplicate No.18
Dougherty first secured a patent for “Triplicates” in 1876, a novel type of indices with a miniature card in the top left-hand corner (and bottom right).
History of Baccarat
-
by Simon Wintle
With the advancement of the Internet, it is now possible to play baccarat in online casinos.
Andrew Dougherty c.1850
The idiosyncratic courts used in this deck were used by several other U.S. manufacturers, including Crehore and Hart, and continued into the early 1900s in Faro decks.
Mickey Mouse y Amigos
-
by Simon Wintle
“Mickey Mouse y Amigos” Spanish-suited pack mimicking Fournier’s Castilian pattern, 2001
Ivorette
Dougherty was at the forefront of innovation, adding Best Bowers and then Jokers, rounded corners and various types of indices, or indicators, to his cards.
Cruiser Playing Cards
Dougherty's ‘Cruiser No.96’, first published c.1897, was dedicated to the U.S. Navy..
Brussels Euro Joker Club 1998
Brussels Euro Joker Club's 10th Anniversary deck, with artwork by Yvette Cleuter, was produced in a limited, signed and numbered edition of 400 copies.
24: The Fournier Museum Catalogue: Comments and Corrections
-
by Ken Lodge
The Fournier catalogue is a very useful reference book, full of pictures of cards from all over the world, but especially Europe. Unfortunately, there are quite a few mistakes and unlikely assumptions in it.
Walter Scharff
After some early experiences working in a cardboard factory and printing business cards, Walter Scharff established a playing card factory in 1923.
Liebig Beef Extract
-
by Simon Wintle
The first cards, or “chromos”, were published in 1872 and during the next 100 years almost 2,000 series were issued as a form of advertisement, but also educational as they cover almost every field of knowledge.
Karl Gerich No.31: Triton
“Triton”, KG31, was published by Karl Gerich in 1989 trading as Victoria Playing Card Co with double-ended courts based on the XP17 or “Bongoût” pattern of Van Genechen and other Turnhout makers.
Benoist Laius
-
by Simon Wintle
Spanish playing cards such as these were used in those parts of France where certain games were enjoyed, such as Aluette.
Empire No.170
The Queens, who wear short sleeved dresses with bonnets adorned with chin straps and roses, hold a rose, a fan, a bird or a letter.
Russell’s Regulars
Willis W. Russell’s “Regulars” were first issued in c.1906, a brand aimed at the armed forces, in tribute to men of the “regular army”. It was patented with ‘Long Distance Pips’ with shading in the hearts and spades.
Smart Set 400
The “Smart Set 400” brand with named backs was introduced in c.1906 by the Kalamazoo Playing Card Co. in Michigan. Kalamazoo subsequently merged with the Russell Playing Card Co. in around 1913 or 1914. Thereafter the “Smart Set 400” series continued to be published by the Russell Playing Card Co.
Russell Playing Card Co.
Willis W. Russell started a modest playing card business in Milltown, a small town in northern New Jersey, in 1905.
Norwood #85, c.1909
The deck features a colourful Ace of Spades and Joker, decorated Aces, unique courts and two beautiful back designs featuring fine art paintings.
Insight Institute Tarot
-
by Simon Wintle
During the late 1940s and 1950s The Insight Institute, of New Malden in Surrey, ran correspondence courses on the Tarot, which consisted of lessons with homework which was checked by tutors as well as a set of 'Authenticated' Tarot cards.
Soldaten Tarock
Piatnik was known for their magnificent quality of chromo-lithographic printing, and this facsimile, or reprint, of “Soldaten Tarock No. 217” is virtually as magnificent as the original.
Shipman’s Guide: early card-packs and the Arcana
In late medieval Europe, among the various forms of card-sets that were tried, two were apparently found most useful.
Michael Scot's rebus figure of "Juppiter" as prototype for the tarot pack's "Magus”/”Bateleur”
A precursor for the 'Bateleur'/'Magus' included in the major arcana of our tarot pack.
Islenzk Spil
-
by Simon Wintle
This historical Icelandic deck was first published in c.1930 and shows the native Icelandic Vikings of some thousand years ago rendered in a romantic naturalistic style.
Thomas Wheeler
-
by Simon Wintle
Thomas Wheeler appears in directories at 2 Richbell St (1799), 8 Middle Row, Holborn (1801), 118 Holborn Hill (1802-07) and 127 Holborn Hill (1807-21).
Leopardo 777 made in Japan for Peru
-
by Simon Wintle
Leopardo 777 playing cards manufactured in Japan for the Estanco de Naipes del Peru, 1960s.
Uta Garuta
-
by Anthony Lee
These cards are basically a poetry anthology (the Hyakunin Isshu, or 百人一首), transposed onto cards.