Comments on: this site is aces.

this site is aces.

iconomy — Wed, 12 Mar 2003 09:04:57 -0800

The Bob Lancaster Gallery of Unusual Playing Cards is a collection and celebration of the beauty of playing cards. The site is over 7 years old and is still updated when Bob comes across a new find. Personal favorites are Le Florentin and the very intriguing Transformation Decks. After viewing the decks, you may wonder why the ace on the ace of spades is larger than the others.

By: thomas j wise

thomas j wise — Wed, 12 Mar 2003 09:11:05 -0800

I ought to send a link to this site to one of my great-uncles, who also collects decks of cards--he has shelves upon shelves of them--as well as cribbage boards. Fun link, iconomy.

By: goddam

goddam — Wed, 12 Mar 2003 09:28:27 -0800

By: jonson

jonson — Wed, 12 Mar 2003 09:28:30 -0800

Delightful link, iconomy - the Star Trek ones are nerdilicious! One comment - they make room for Tribbles (the joker), yet nary a Gorn to be found. C'mon people, The GORN!!!
Shanesque tiny voice: Man am I a dork!

By: orange swan

orange swan — Wed, 12 Mar 2003 09:30:55 -0800

The Art Quit deck was probably my favorite. But I had to wonder - is there no deck featuring that classic trash art piece, Dogs Playing Poker?

By: orange swan

orange swan — Wed, 12 Mar 2003 09:32:37 -0800

The Art Quilt deck was probably my favourite. But I had to wonder - is there no deck featuring that classic trashy art piece, Dogs Playing Poker, complete with a card within a card within a card effect?

By: aacheson

aacheson — Wed, 12 Mar 2003 09:34:30 -0800

That is an awesome link. I will have to look at it again when I have more time.

By: cairnish

cairnish — Wed, 12 Mar 2003 09:38:08 -0800

The Big Dogs deck at least makes reference to the poker-playing canines on the back image. Does seem like it would be an irresistable deck design though.

By: fishfucker

fishfucker — Wed, 12 Mar 2003 09:39:02 -0800

wow. fantastic link iconomy. thank you. [this is good]

By: yhbc

yhbc — Wed, 12 Mar 2003 09:42:19 -0800

Wonderful post iconomy, but with only one complaint: had you waited a couple more weeks to post it, you could have given the proper attention to the delightrul Sloof-Lirpa Transparent Deck. This delightful feast for the eyes is easily the most amazing of the many fanciful decks on display. Thanks!

By: ursus_comiter

ursus_comiter — Wed, 12 Mar 2003 09:51:59 -0800

I got your Gorn right here Jonson! And yes, great link.

By: iconomy

iconomy — Wed, 12 Mar 2003 09:54:24 -0800

Here are cards featuring Rex, Spot, Fido, Rover, and Puddles, otherwise known as "Dogs Playing Poker". I have no idea why I know the names of the dogs. I really need to get out more. My fascination with cards started years ago when I started to wonder how the Suicide King came to be, and if in fact he was really putting a sword through his skull, or just behind his head.

By: Ljubljana

Ljubljana — Wed, 12 Mar 2003 09:54:35 -0800

Very nice post, iconomy. The Florentin deck (Artist Paul-Emile Becat took four years to design and create the memorable images in the deck) is particularly beautiful.

By: soyjoy

soyjoy — Wed, 12 Mar 2003 10:08:19 -0800

Thanks for the post. I had always wondered that about the aces, but never realized till today that I was even wondering.

By: jonson

jonson — Wed, 12 Mar 2003 10:22:52 -0800

ursus_comiter is the coolest person on Metafilter!!!

By: jennyb

jennyb — Wed, 12 Mar 2003 10:25:27 -0800

Great site! I adore the Evil Forces in East Slavic Mythology deck. But I have a soft sport for evil forces in Slavic mythology, anyway. No, seriously. And dare I say it? I believe that site actually makes good use of frames.

By: antispork

antispork — Wed, 12 Mar 2003 10:40:04 -0800

The joker from the Schering Pharmaceuticals deck is going to give me nightmares.

By: plep

plep — Wed, 12 Mar 2003 10:49:39 -0800

This is good.

By: chrid

chrid — Wed, 12 Mar 2003 11:04:12 -0800

One feature of this site that really puts the icing on the cake is the collection of links at the bottom of the page for each deck, which direct the reader to more info about the theme of that deck. Pirates for example. Yarr! Superb link, iconomy.

By: taz

taz — Wed, 12 Mar 2003 11:24:23 -0800

ooh. yummy. I love Ruth Kedar's analog deck, and the page has a link to her website, where she also has her wonderful Adobe and Duolog Decks. has anyone told Miguel about the Cocktails Patience natural aluminum playing cards?

By: taz

taz — Wed, 12 Mar 2003 11:35:33 -0800

ps: if anyone has problems with the javascript popups on Kedar's site (duolog crashes my browser) go here for the html. Replace the "2" in the url with "1" for the Analog deck and with "3" for the Adobe deck.

By: jazon

jazon — Wed, 12 Mar 2003 13:57:32 -0800

Do check out the Cardhouse Deck 'o Junk as well.

By: Zurishaddai

Zurishaddai — Wed, 12 Mar 2003 15:14:45 -0800

So far, the links are mostly to novelty cards. How about collections and histories of more traditional decks (with plenty of odd ones mixed in)? Andy Pollett's page (Geocities mirror) is phenomenal (start at the gallery index: each gallery includes an informative essay). I find the 13th c. Mamluk cards particularly intriguing, and most readers here will probably find the true (non-occult) origins of the tarot pretty interesting (see also here). Maybe you want to know what kinds of games are played with this remarkable variety of objects... Being an amateur of the living game traditions more than of expensive antiques available for sale, I'll skip the auctioneers and point you to the best online store for playing cards in current production. Here's an interesting card collection; here's one focussing on tarot (via here).

By: Zurishaddai

Zurishaddai — Wed, 12 Mar 2003 15:20:38 -0800

Whoops, start at the gallery index here (links to everything from advertising decks to cards of India and China). Also, I should've mentioned the Web sites for information about playing-cards directory at John McLeod's pagat.com, which links the FPP collection, a good playing card FAQ, etc.

By: taz

taz — Wed, 12 Mar 2003 23:43:58 -0800

Wow, Zurishaddai, Andy Pollett's site is a whopper. Great info, thanks! Also, from the last link, you've gotta love this Tahititian Tarot card.