Magic: The Gathering® Poker Decks

Published March 07, 2023 Updated March 08, 2023

A pair of suited packs with artwork from Magic: The Gathering trading cards.

1998 USA Wizards of the Coast Dan Frazier Douglas Shuler Dragons Fantasy Pop Culture

Magic: The Gathering was released in 1993 by Wizards of the Coast. It was the first trading card game and continues to be extremely popular. What many people may not realise is that suited playing cards also exist with artwork from the trading cards. A double pack was issued in 1998 with two different sets of court cards. Each design has the character’s name together with the name of the illustrator. The Jokers feature a jester’s mask and a jester’s cap illustrated by Dan Frazier (same in both packs). The box illustration is by Douglas Shuler. See the box

Magic: The Gathering® Poker Decks published by Wizards of the Coast, Inc., Renton, WA, USA, 1998 Magic: The Gathering® Poker Decks published by Wizards of the Coast, Inc., Renton, WA, USA, 1998 Magic: The Gathering® Poker Decks published by Wizards of the Coast, Inc., Renton, WA, USA, 1998 Magic: The Gathering® Poker Decks published by Wizards of the Coast, Inc., Renton, WA, USA, 1998

Above: Magic: The Gathering® Poker Decks published by Wizards of the Coast, Inc., Renton, WA, USA, 1998. Made in the USA. 2 x 52 cards + 2 Jokers + 1 double-sided extra card (different in each pack) in a drop-lid box. Size: 63 x 88 mm. © 1993-1998 Wizards of the Coast, Inc.

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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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