Fishing for Compliments
‘Fishing for Compliments’ playing cards created by Pixel Initiative, illustrated by Stacey Jay Kelly.
Twelve different British freshwater fish are celebrated in this pack illustrated by Stacey Jay Kelly. Stacey is probably best known as the designer of the WCMPC Installation packs since 2017. Using a limited range of colours in her double-ended designs, she has put the emphasis on the scales, fins and individual skin texture of each fish, all this against a lined background. Pairs of fish-hooks make up the central “A”s on the Aces. The same designs are used in each suit, except for the Ace of Spades which is more highly decorated than the other Aces. The card values are displayed in two corners – in white on black for the black suits, and in white on reddish pink for the red suits. Each Joker shows a couple of old boots. See the box►


Above: ‘Fishing for Compliments’ playing cards created by Pixel Initiative, with illustrations by Stacey Jay Kelly, manufactured and distributed by LEGENDS Playing Cards Company, 2014. 52 cards + 2 Jokers in tuck box. Size: 63 x 88 mm. The box has a vague sheen, as you might get from fish skin.

By Roddy Somerville
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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