Category: Entertainment

HOW TO BECOME A PLAYING CARD DESIGNER

Posted on March 31, 2021 by Charles Levin - Custom Design, Entertainment, How To, Playing Cards

“At Shuffled Ink, we make the seemingly unattainable attainable by helping you design the playing card deck of your dreams.“

Did you know that the playing cards that you’re dying to get your hands on can actually be designed by those very same hands? In just 3 easy steps, we will deliver the decks that you’ve dreamed up in your mind right to your doorstep.

1. THE ARTWORK

Shuffled Ink follows your lead when it comes to designing the perfect playing cards. You can print any design on the card backs and faces or just the card backs. It’s up to you! And get this: You aren’t required to put a limit on the number of cards in the deck either. When we say custom playing cards, we mean it. So, let’s start by laying out all the cards on the table – to become a playing card designer, you must first come up with a concept. No matter what stage you’re at in the design process, we are here for you, from start-to-finish. Finalizing artwork? Wondering where to begin? Ready for production? We got you, whether you’re a seasoned designer or first-timer.

We offer:

Complimentary samples of our top-quality products (simply include your delivery address and contact phone number on your custom request a quote form
Readily available client support, call us at 407-298-3579 anytime
Full-service graphic assistance
Convenient in-house printing
Low minimums, no setup or added color (CMYK) fees
Ultra-fast turnaround times
Authentic client feedback on Facebook and Google; video reviews

2. ALL IN THE DETAILS

CARD STOCK SELECTION

Card stock is the applied finish. It protects the cards and gives them a professional look and feel. Now, there isn’t necessarily one option that hails supreme. Really, the choice is dependent upon what you think will better suit your deck. Nevertheless, your project manager will provide you with their honest card stock recommendation based on your project specifications.

Smooth finish

An indent-free finish with a shiny appearance and polished texture. High resolution and detailed artwork (such as photos), as well as text-sensitive material, usually prints best on cards with a smooth finish.

Linen finish

Linen has a textured, cross-stitched pattern and is both visible and tangible for card players to see and feel.

Matte Finish

The display is non-glossy with a sandy-like texture. Our most popular finish is semi-gloss, which doesn’t increase the cost of your cards.

300 GSM Premium Paper Stock – Smooth Finish
310 GSM Casino Paper – Linen Finish (this is a slightly denser and thicker card, allowing for greater “snap-back”)
28MM PVC (1,000-Deck Min.) – Smooth & Matte Finish
32MM PVC (1,000-Deck Min.) – Smooth & Matte Finish
35MM Plastic (1,000-Deck Min.) –Smooth & Matte Finish

GSM stands for grams per square meter, meaning if you had a square meter of card stock, the weight in grams is the GSM. Both the 300 and 310GSM paper stock options contain a black core, which is a lining built inside of the card stock that limits the light that may pass through the cards. This is an extra precaution that casinos take when using paper playing cards. The black core lining also contributes to the fantastic “snap-back”, “shuffle-ability”, and durability of the cards we produce. These stocks are sourced from the most highly regarded playing card stock manufacturers in the world. As previously noted, we will send you free samples of our card products by request. Simply include your delivery address and contact phone number on your custom quote request form.

SPECIALTY PACKAGING

We offer a variety of packaging options so that no matter the budget or vision for your project, you’ll have the right box to hold it all together. View the entire card box collection here.

White SBS Custom Tuck Box

3. THE GRAND REVEAL

Marketing your product is hands down one of the most important steps in successfully designing a deck. You are creating a one-of-a-kind product, so naturally, your promotions should mirror that. The grand reveal, or lack thereof, can make or break your product, regardless of how outstanding your idea may be. While this is the third & final step, you should be promoting your playing cards well before they hit the press. If you are unable to fund the project on your own, we suggest joining a crowdfunding platform like Kickstarter. This is where creators set a funding goal & share their ideas with others through mock-up photos, detailed descriptions of the project’s purpose and story & more. For those who haven’t created a Kickstarter project or backed anyone else’s before, we can assure you that from our experience working with clients who have taken this route, we’ve seen a lot of success and promise. Of course, if you already have the means to produce a project, then Kickstarter probably isn’t an optimal choice for you. Take a look at some of our clients’ awesome Kickstarters:

Marketing Perks with Shuffled Ink

We offer a vast selection of free marketing services. Don’t hesitate to contact our marketing team about promo opportunities. If the options listed below don’t align with your vision, we will collaborate with you to determine the best feature for your product.

1. Social Media Feature

Promote your product(s) on our Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter platforms with links to your website and/or Kickstarter as well as tags to your media platforms.

2. Product Photography

We snap professional photos of your cards that you can use freely on your own website, e-commerce shop, social media, etc.

3. Shuffled Ink Blog

Card Story: We interview you about your product, write the article and promote it on our social media with tags and links.

The Queen of Affirmation Cards

Client Product Links: In our relevant articles, we will include links to your product shop, website, social media, etc.

Choosing the Perfect Tarot Deck

4. Client Printing Videos

Similar to social feature but instead showcase your card’s production process.

Muscle Car Cards Printing

SI Playing Card Designers

“Creating custom playing cards has always been an art fantasy of mine. Collaborating with an artist friend made the process that much more fun.” – Georgette R.

“I ordered some custom playing cards of a game I reimagined that my late grandfather taught my family – and I am thrilled with the outcome. Great product, great quality and very responsive and helpful team members!” –Eric N.

“Top-quality products by caring people. You will love them as much as I do. They do an amazing job! They offered a fall art contest, which I entered. It’s such a wonderful way for artists to publish their works and to see so many fantastic works of art.” –Marna B.

“To say, ‘I love everything about this deck,’ is quite the understatement… when I requested for casino quality cards, from Shuffled Ink, they did not disappoint.” –Brodie C.

If there’s a deck you wish to possess, but it doesn’t exist yet, then you must create it. This serves as a reminder to both primed creators and the new kids on the block. At Shuffled Ink, we make the seemingly unattainable attainable by helping you design the playing card deck of your dreams. Go get started today! We’re behind you every step of the way.

Want to learn more about playing cards and how to create your own custom card decks? Click below for details!

Shuffled Ink is a multigenerational family business that specializes in printing custom playing cards, tarot & flash cards, packaging and more for businesses and individuals worldwide. ● Official Shuffled Ink website: ShuffledInk ● Make Your Own Custom Playing Cards at: ShuffledInk ● Make Your Own Custom Card Games at: ShuffledInk ● Make Your Own Custom Tarot Cards at: ShuffledInk ● Make Your Own Custom Flash Cards at: ShuffledInk

THE MAGICIAN’S OATH

Posted on March 4, 2021 by EndersGame - Card Magic, Card Trick, Cardistry, Entertainment, Magician, Playing Cards

What is the Magician’s Oath?

You don’t have to know much about magic to be aware that that there is a long tradition around maintaining secrecy, in order to preserve the secrets of magic. There is even an ancient “Magician’s Oath”, which is a kind of magician’s code that practitioners of magic are expected to uphold. In its modern form is often worded as follows: “As a magician I promise never to reveal the secret of any illusion to a non-magician, unless that one swears to uphold the Magician’s Oath in turn. “I promise never to perform any illusion for any non-magician without first practicing the effect until I can perform it well enough to maintain the illusion of magic.”

What about the internet?

This oath is understandable in a context where the only way you could learn the secrets of magic was directly from another magician. Magic was carefully passed on from one conjurer to another, and an oath of secrecy ensured that these secrets would be carefully protected. In today’s age of the internet and rapid communication, it is much harder to preserve the secrets of magic. The infamous TV series by the Masked Magician (Val Valentino) entitled Breaking the Magician’s Code: Magic’s Biggest Secrets Finally Revealed put many inside secrets from the world of magic directly into the public eye. Today anyone can purchase books on magic from Amazon, buy tricks from eBay or your favourite magic retailer, or watch video tutorials on youtube that teach you how to do card tricks. Within hours of a magic performance on a popular show like America’s Got Talent, videos will start appearing online with apparent “Reveals” of the method. The internet hasn’t been all bad for magic. Improved technology and communication also means that magic can be promoted in a way like never before. Streaming video means that there are new and wonderful ways for people to watch videos of their favourite TV magic, including popular shows like Penn and Teller and Masters of Illusion. Serious students of magic can also easily exchange ideas, share videos, and access content that will teach some of the very best tricks of all time. In many ways it is an exciting time for magic, because the magic student has access to the very best resources at the click of a mouse, and the latest downloadable video content instantly becomes yours with the help of “Add to Cart” and PayPal. It’s easier than ever for a new generation to discover magic, get excited about it, and find the tools to begin their own journey of learning this time-honoured craft. But this exciting time does come with challenges, not the least of which is the danger of exposure, and of using these new tools to hurt magic as an art-form. On balance, is the internet hurting magic more than it is helping it? You don’t need to take a position on either side of that debate to recognize that in this new territory it is important for everyone with an interest in magic to think carefully about the ethics of magic, and to work with the underlying principles of the age-old Magician’s Oath in our modern day.

What does this mean for you today?

Ultimately the solemn and ancient pledge of magicians aims to uphold the secrets of the art of magic, in order to help promote and defend it as a unique performing art. If you enjoy doing card magic, even just as a hobby for family and friends, here are five things you can do to apply the underlying principles of the Magician’s Oath today: 1. Guard your secrets Regardless of whether or not you make a formal promise like this as a member of an official magic organization, the reality is that magic does have an informal code of secrecy and of ethics that is important to be familiar with and abide by. The real issue is not first of all whether someone finds out the secret of how we’ve done a particular trick, but whether we are hurting the art of magic or helping it. Exchanging ideas and secrets about magic with a fellow magician is very different from the kind of exposure that hurts magic. 2. Create magic, not puzzles The real heart of the Magician’s Oath is that it wants to uphold magic as an art-form that creates astonishment in our audiences. To cheaply reveal the method behind your magic robs them of that very sense of wonder and mystery that it’s your job to create in the first place. If we really want to give people the gift of magic, then we mustn’t turn our performances into mere tricks or puzzles that must be figured out, but retain this sense of surprise and amazement, and do everything we can to create wonder, rather than take it away. 3. Be an entertainer, not a superhero This is also the reason why magicians will typically shy away from suggesting that they have actual abilities to read minds or bend spoons. We want to entertain our audiences by means of a performing art. But that entertainment comes through creating a very believable and convincing illusion, not through making them think we have genuine super-powers. Our job is to bring our audience into a world of imagination where they can suspend their sense of disbelief, rekindle their childlike sense of wonder, and so escape the trappings of normal life for the brief time they are watching our routines. 4. Give credit where credit is due In addition, the Magician’s Oath implies that we must respect those who have gone before us, by recognizing that many magicians have worked hard to come up with the effects and routines we are privileged to perform. When we casually pass on the secret behind a commercial effect, we may even be hurting the livelihood of the creator. This is also why magicians are often so fussy about attributing moves and tricks accurately and carefully, and are insistent on preserving intellectual property. 5. Practice before you perform The commitment to practice sufficiently before performing an effect to a non-magician further confirms that the Magician’s Oath is ultimately all about magic as an art. If we are going to make magic entertaining and live up to the high standards of this art, then we cannot cheapen it by acting like trained monkeys, parading poorly practiced tricks that are full of sloppy handling and unrehearsed patter.

https://youtu.be/Xlyp43F7lhk

Astonish and entertain!

In the end, the reason we all love magic is precisely because of its ability to astonish and entertain. So have another read of the Magician’s Oath, and think about the ways that you can promote magic as an art-form, not just by working hard to create a real sense of wonder in your spectators, but also so that future generations can continue to enjoy magic just as we do today. Where to learn? If you’re interested in learning card magic, I highly recommend the terrific videos from Big Blind Media with self-working card tricks and easy-to-do card tricks. Also see our previous articles on How to Get Started in Card Magic and Recommended Resources for Beginners in Card Magic.

Other articles you might find interesting:

Golden Rules For Magic

THE JOKER: USELESS OR ESSENTIAL?

Posted on February 18, 2021 by Charles Levin - Custom Design, Entertainment, History, Playing Cards

The History

A standard pack of playing cards, and even most custom-designed ones, hold 54 cards with two Jokers included. But have you ever wondered why deck designers continue to insert cards that are usually discarded? Let’s take a look at its origins to determine if the Joker is, in fact, useless or essential. During the 15th century, the French created what became today’s standard playing deck, featuring the four suits in two colors: black for spades and clubs and red for hearts and diamonds. But here’s the kicker. This deck carried only 52 cards. Why? Because the Joker card was not yet invented. The first-ever Joker card was designed and printed in 1867 by Bicycle Playing Cards. Introducing Euchre, the purpose for the Joker’s creation. This game deemed the Joker a trump card, or “the best bower,” rather than a discard. Oh, the irony! In regards to card games, other than being used as a wild card in a few poker variations, you may feel strongly about calling the Joker useless, but it’s important to remember that a deck’s purpose is not entirely contingent on playing card games.

Joker Card Art

Enter the world of playing cards: a community that sees cards as art; a community dedicated to preserving, discovering and cultivating cards with artistic and technical qualities. If you think about the following cards — King, Queen and Jack — their standard design most likely entered your mind. Now, think of the Joker. Not as easy, right? Well, that’s because the Joker doesn’t necessarily have a standard appearance… and this brings us back to our initial question: Is the Joker useless or essential? The Joker’s lack of a traditional design isn’t a bad thing. It actually enables playing card artists to try to create what could potentially be labeled as the standard design for a Joker — among other goals. Ironically, to become the standard, you have to be the opposite: stand out among the rest. That’s exactly what the French deck accomplished, and six centuries later, it is still the standard playing card image. Luckily, there’s nothing standard about creating cards with Shuffled Ink. We offer a wide spectrum of customization options to help you accomplish practically anything. Our card creators can personalize the:

Card Backs & Faces
Card Size
Number of Cards per deck
Card Box/Packaging
And More…

Here are some of our awesome clients’ customized Joker cards:

Final Fantasy IX Playing Cards

Darling Playing Cards with Morgan Harper Nichols

Incantation Playing Cards

Posse Paper Goods Playing Cards

SD Office of Highway Safety Playing Cards

Astrodog Media Playing Cards

Whether you want to design a deck with only Jokers or a card game where the Joker trumps all, the Shuffled Ink team will make sure that your vision meets reality. So, useless or essential? We’d love to hear what you think in the comments below! Shuffled Ink is a multigenerational family business that specializes in printing custom playing cards, tarot & flash cards, packaging and more for businesses and individuals worldwide. To receive complimentary samples of our card products, include your delivery address and phone number on your custom quote request form. ● Official Shuffled Ink website: ShuffledInk ● Make Your Own Custom Playing Cards at: ShuffledInk

THE HISTORY OF PLAYING CARD PRINTING

Posted on February 10, 2021 by Charles Levin - Behind the Scenes, Entertainment, History, How To, Manufacturer, Playing Cards, Printing Service, Technology

Ever wonder how your favorite playing card decks are printed? The 20-second video below highlights one of the first steps in Shuffled Ink’s production process: printing the cards.

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Pretty cool, right? Well, technology certainly makes the production process appear effortless, and as you’re most likely aware, printing playing cards looked astronomically different back in the day.

Types of Printing

Woodblock Printing

Replace Xerox machines with blocks of wood and you’ll get Woodblock Printing. If it’s difficult to imagine creating playing cards with sharp tools and wood, then check out this helpful article: How to Make Your Own Woodblock Print Like the Japanese Masters by writer and art historian Jessica Stewart. Through step-by-step details, she even explains how to transfer any artwork and/or image onto the wooden surface.

Origins

Whether used to create a deck of cards or place images inside of a book, China, as well as Central and East Asia, pioneered woodblock printing.

Countries well-versed in Xylography, or the art of printing from carved wood, often transported playing cards to Europe. But once paper became available during the 15th century, European manufacturers were able to print decks domestically using the wood blocking technique.

The Technique

Relief printing is the process of cutting or etching with a stencil onto the wooden surface so all that remains is the printed design.

Woodblock Playing Cards: Photo from a WOPC article

Copperplate Printing

This innovative printing method began around the 15th century. It is a form of intaglio printing, where impressions and designs are pressed into copperplates either through engraving (direct intaglio) or acid etching (indirect intaglio).

Master E.S., also known as Master of the Playing Cards, developed this process of playing card printing.

The Queen of Flowers by Master of the Playing Cards

Attributed to The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Lithography

Toward the end of the 18th century, Lithography (Latin – litho: stone; graph: write) was invented in Germany by Alois Senefelder. Many artists, as well as playing card creators, adopted this water-and-oil-based technique. Not only did it revolutionize colored impressions through chromolithographs but also introduced a cheaper printing method through limestone rather than copper.

Before

So, what did lithography printing look like? The card’s design was etched onto limestone using oil. The ink was then applied, sinking into the design area and then transferred onto paper for production. Litho printing never truly went out of style. It adapted as technology advanced.

“El Barco” Playing Cards Created Through Chromolithograph

Offset Lithography

Also known as offset printing, this modern litho process uses rubber rollers to transfer images from plate to paper. As opposed to hand-drawn designs, offset uses a machine to create the image.

Digital Printing

We use a Xerox digital printer to produce your custom projects like playing cards and games, tarot and oracle as well as flashcards. The first digital printers arrived in the early 1990s and today they reign quite popular in the printing industry.

Right now, it may seem like we have reached or surpassed the height of playing card printing, but this is only the beginning. Whether the future will enhance our modern printing machine or invent something entirely new, Shuffled Ink looks forward to many more years manufacturing your awesome personalized card products!

Xerox Printing Machine at Shuffled Ink

How We Manufacture Playing Cards

Shuffled Ink is a multigenerational family business with an unwavering, decades-old mission: to provide an unparalleled experience in customer service and product quality to ensure that all clients’ card visions meet reality.

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HISTORICAL CURIOSITIES THAT SHAPED OUR MODERN DECK (PART 1)

Posted on February 4, 2021 by EndersGame - Bridge Cards, Card Designers, Card Games, Custom Design, Entertainment, History, Playing Cards, Poker Cards, Tarot Cards

Those of us who love customized playing cards can at times succumb to the temptation to be dismissive and cool towards an uncustomized, namely a standard, deck of playing cards. You know what I mean: your typical Bicycle rider-back deck, a set of “plain” courts and face cards. The kind of deck we’ve all seen a gazillion times, so that we consider it entirely traditional and perhaps even bland. With that perspective, it came as somewhat of a surprise for me to discover that playing cards in the 1800s looked nothing like this. Let me place an imaginary deck of playing cards from that era in your hand, and tell you what you’d see. First of all, you’ll immediately notice that the card-backs are all white. Yes really: a plain white, with no back design at all. Then you look at the court cards and notice that they are all full-sized one way designs. And as you fan the cards in your hand, you notice that there are no indices on the corners of the cards. When you finally discover the Ace of Spades, you notice that it looks rather plain and ordinary, with the ornate and over-sized design typical of modern decks being altogether absent. So how did we get from this to the “standard” deck that we know today? Let’s visit some of the historical curiosities that have played a role in shaping our modern playing cards as we know them today.

Red and Black Suits

Today were expect a deck of playing cards to have red and black suits, but that’s certainly not how playing cards first looked. In fact the original suits used in Italian playing cards in the 1400s were Swords, Clubs, Cups, and Coins, and each of these had unique artwork, which wasn’t in any way strictly red and black. These suits were changed to Acorns, Leaves, Hearts, and Bells when playing cards were imported to Germany, which became a dominant producer of playing cards on the European market. But all that changed when French manufacturers developed new techniques for printing playing cards. Already in the early 15th century, France had developed its own suits as we know them today: Hearts, Spades, Diamonds, and Clubs. But the real genius came when the French producers of playing cards divided these four suits into two red and two black, and simplified the shape of pips so that they could be cheaply produced by stencil while remaining easy for card players to recognize them. Suddenly it became possible to use stencils to manufacture large amounts of cards quickly and easily by using a single image of a king, a queen, and a knave, in combination with stencils for the suit icons. Within a short time, the French had taken over the playing card industry, simply by sheer volume of production, since this method was far more efficient and simple than using wood cuts or engraving. As a result of this important commercial advantage, the French suits in red and black became familiar throughout Europe, with only pockets continuing with the German suits. And that’s how we got the red and black suits that we still use today!

Suit Pips and Names

It is hard to imagine playing cards with suits other than how we know them today: Hearts, Diamonds, Clubs, and Spades. But the four suits have actually undergone a significant evolution of artwork and of names. These changes owe much to the history of playing cards, and is closely connected with the different countries that were world leaders in playing card production in different times. Playing cards likely arrived in Europe via Egypt. The 14th century playing cards from the Mamluk period in Egypt used suits in four colours, using Cups, Coins, Swords, and Polo-sticks. These corresponded to the major pastimes and activities of the upper class, which was known to have a fondness for polo, for example. Italian and Spanish playing cards from that period also used Cups, Coins, Swords and Clubs as their suits, and are apparently indebted to the Mamluk suits that likely made their way across the Mediterranean with the help of traders. Even to the present day, these are the suits found on modern playing cards used in Italy and Spain, and are referred to as the Latin suits. When Germany became the world’s leading playing card producer, these suits changed to Acorns, Leaves, Hearts, and Bells, reflecting something of German culture and interests. Playing cards from nearby Switzerland are a variation of this, with Shields and Flowers being used in place of Leaves and Hearts.

But eventually France took over Germany’s dominance of the playing card industry, with new methods of production made possible by simplifying the deck into red and black suits, and the help of the printing press. When the capital of playing card production thus returned to Western Europe, these red and black suits then became the standard suits, using the familiar pips as we know them today, although at the time they were called Coeurs, Piques, Carreaux, and Trefles. Even though the pips that were introduced and popularized in France around 1480 are the ones we recognize today, they had not yet been assigned the names that are in common current usage. While the French word Coeurs indeed means Hearts and Piques (pikes) can be translated Spades, the word Carreaux (tiles) would best have been translated by the word Lozenge, which was the word used at the time to describe a rhombus or diamond shape. And while Trefles can be translated as Clover, the use of the term Clubs actually has a closer connection to the matching Italian suit of Bastoni, and hails back to the polo sticks of the Mamluk era. We simply can’t be sure why some of the French card names were abandoned. But what we do know is that it is the English card names that gained traction, and that’s what we still use today.

Interestingly, the English-French suits and court cards have a distinctly courtly flavour, while the Latin ones are military, and the Germanic ones are rustic. Some historians have suggested the possibility that the four suits are symbolic and represent the four classes of medieval society, which varied according to geographic and cultural origin where the decks were produced. For example, it is speculated that the Latin suits correspond to the church (Cups = chalices), merchants (Coins), peasantry (Batons = clubs), and military (Swords). Similarly it is suggested that the German suits correspond to the church (Hearts), nobility (Hawk Bells), peasantry (Acorns), and middle class (Leaves); while the French suits correspond to the church (Hearts), citizenry (Diamonds = tiled paving stones used in churches), peasantry (Clover = pig food and husbandry), and aristocracy (Spades = pikes or spearheads). At any rate, the major suits that we use today were firmly established in France by the end of the 15th century, and haven’t undergone any real change since then.

Card Backs

Prior to the the start of the 19th century, playing cards typically all had white backs. These convenient sources of paper could easily be conscripted for other uses, and were often written on and used for letters, notes, or drawing; and even used as credit notes. One extraordinary usage dates back to the 18th century in the Netherlands, where impoverished mothers left their babies at orphanages along with a message on the back of a playing card – the cheapest paper available – which would function as a form of ID, and had a message from the mother along with the baby’s name. Mothers that planned to return some day would leave just half a card, keeping the matching half as future proof of their parental connection. However the white backs also created practical problems: cards could easily become marked, and this presented an obvious issue when playing card games. Options were limited, especially if money was tight – it was costly to purchase a new deck, and returning the cards to the workshop for cleaning wasn’t an ideal or permanent solution either. Manufacturing techniques did improve in time, but the use of intricate patterns or small pictures on the back initially began as a commercially smart move to hide faults in the paper, thereby enabling producers to use cheaper grades of paper, or to minimize the issue of marked backs. There was a need to hide any signs of wear and tear, and that is what led manufacturers to print designs and pictures on the reverse of playing cards, by printing repeating geometric patterns of stars or dots. The first card backs with an actual original design were created in 1831, to commemorate the coronation of King William and Queen Adelaide. With the development of full colour lithiography, it became possible to produce card backs that were richly decorated, and these began to be produced from 1844 onwards. It didn’t take long before card backs were used for advertising and marketing, as well as artistic designs that helped make the cards more attractive or highlighted the ability of the artist and designer.

Poker and Bridge Size

Poker-sized cards may seem “large” in comparison to bridge sized cards, but originally playing cards were even larger in size than the ones we use today. The reduction in size from these larger cards to the “poker-sized” ones as we know them today is a later development in playing card history. Bridge-sized cards were first developed as a result of the growing popularity of card games like Bridge, which required players to hold large numbers of cards in their hand, and yet be able to easily determine their values. Whereas a standard poker-sized card is 2.5 inches wide by 3.5 inches high (64 × 89 mm), the narrow bridge-sized card is 2.25 inches wide by 3.5 inches high (57 × 89 mm), making them about 10% narrower, and more ideal for larger hand sizes. The designations poker-size and bridge-size simply refer to the size and don’t limit their usage to particular types of card games. Bridge-size cards can equally be used for poker, and poker-size cards can be used for other games like BlackJack, and in fact are typically used as such in many casinos. But these two sizes are now more or less standard, and date as far back as 1880s in playing cards printed by USPCC. Magicians and cardists tend to have a strong preference for poker-sized cards, due to the fact that their increased width makes them more suitable for manipulation, card sleights, and flourishing.

Tarot Cards

Tarot cards appear to have had a separate origin from regular playing cards, and were not a predecessor to the standard 52 card deck, despite claims of some that Tarot cards existed first. In fact the earliest surviving Tarot cards date from a period much later than regular playing cards, and they appear to have had an early use as additional trump cards. They consisted of 22 separate designs with allegorical illustrations, and were added to a standard deck in order to create a larger overall deck which was used first of all for gaming. While this larger deck possibly also functioned as a means of instruction and education, these extra cards were not first of all added as a result of an interest in the occult or for fortune-telling. As part of a 78 card tarot deck that could be used for more elaborate and complex games, tarot cards were only used for occultic cartomancy for the very first time around 1750. The symbolism and significance of the original illustrations that do date back to Renaissance Italy has been lost over time, and it is most likely that the original artwork of these additional cards simply reflects the 15th century cultural fashions of the day. The Tarot deck may have gained a life of its own in occult circles today, but this usage doesn’t pre-date the standard deck.

About the writer: EndersGame is a well-known reviewer of board games and playing cards. He loves card games, card magic, and collecting playing cards. This article first appeared on PlayingCardDecks.com here. ● Official Shuffled Ink website: ShuffledInk ● Make Your Own Custom Playing Cards at: ShuffledInk ● Make Your Own Custom Tarot Cards at: ShuffledInk ● Make Your Own Custom Card Games at: ShuffledInk ● Make Your Own Custom Flash Cards at: ShuffledInk

TAR💗T SPREADS F💗R VALENTINE’S DAY

Posted on January 14, 2021 by Charles Levin - Astrology, Card Designers, Client Feature, Custom Design, Entertainment, Oracle Cards, Tarot Cards, Tarot Spreads

The Twin Flame & Love Messages Oracle Deck

Tarot is used to explore your past, present and future. The Major and Minor Arcana, which consist of 78 mystic cards, can tap into nearly any life situation, including love and romance. So, regardless if you’re single, in a relationship, married or somewhere in-between, allow these 3 suggested tarot spreads to provide you with meaningful insight this Valentine’s Day.

1. For Past Love

This spread dives into your previous connections. No matter the relationship’s duration or level of romanticism, it acts as a guide, particularly when unresolved feelings exist. The Spread: Thoroughly shuffle the deck, then arrange 8 cards into a heart shape. The questions and statements listed are assigned to each numbered card.

Demise: The factor(s) that contributed to the relationship’s end.
Lingering: What are you/or they holding onto from the relationship?
Evolve: How do you overcome #2?
Details: Describe the relationship.
Feelings: How did you feel about your previous partner before/during/after the relationship.
Self: Your feelings toward yourself before/during/after the relationship.
Gains/Losses: Things learned from the relationship.
The Future: How this experience could impact your future relationship(s).

2. For Present Love

For this spread, focus on a current relationship (official, on a break, in the talking stage or longing from afar). While conducting any of these readings, it’s important to be transparent about your thoughts on love as well as where you’re at in the relationship. This will help you to accurately understand both yourself and the other person involved. The Spread: The Goddess of Love symbolizes the number 6, so place 6 cards side-by-side on the table. The Present Love spread revolves around ideals, sentiments and connections.

Your feelings toward your partner.
Your partner’s feelings toward you.
The type of connection you have (physical, mental, spiritual, etc.).
Any past relationships that directly impact this one? Elaborate.
If yes to #4, how do you overcome them?
Your expectations for the relationship?

3. For Future Love

This spread channels your past and present relationship(s) to prep you for future ones. You will be using the Major Arcana (22 cards). Arrange each one to your liking. (0) The Fool: The path you wish to venture. (1) The Magician: Readiness toward the opportunities of love. (2) The High Priestess: Understanding your instincts. (3) The Empress: Readiness toward having a family (if you do not have children). Balancing partner and children (if you do have children). (4) The Emperor: Past relationship pain (mental, physical, etc.). (5) The Hierophant: Commitment to your future partner. (6) The Lovers: Most important/least important type of connection. (7) The Chariot: Balancing work with a future relationship. (8) Strength: Obstacles in a previous relationship and how it made you stronger for what awaits. (9) The Hermit: Ensure time alone without completely withdrawing from your partner. (10) Wheel of Fortune: Respect and kindness toward your partner, their family, friends, co-workers, etc. (11) Justice: What holds you back? (12) The Hanged Man: Do not fester or hold onto negativity. (13) Death: Release toxicity from previous relationships to make room for a clean slate with a new partner. (14) Temperance: How to overcome future arguments, disagreements, obstacles, etc. (15) The Devil: Weigh all options about your expectations for a partner and vice versa. (16) The Tower: Your reaction to an unprecedented event. (17) The Star: Thoughts about romance. (18) The Moon: How your dreams showcase love. (19) The Sun: Taking love for granted. (20) Judgement: How your partner perceives you. (21) The World: Openness toward conversing about past relationships with your future partner.

Design the Cards & Tar♡t Spreads

The path is far from narrow when designing tarot spreads and cards. Similar to how tarot can guide any situation, our card products can serve any purpose. Consider pairing the spread with personalized card art that pertains to your Valentine’s Day theme. As a Shuffled Ink client creator, you determine every single component: the design and style, card size and the number of cards. You can even go above and beyond by implementing custom instructions, booklets and packaging. Highlighted below are a few tarot and oracle cards created by our talented clients that may be perfect to use for Valentine’s Day reading. Click on each image to visit their website.

Twin Flame & Love Messages Oracle Card Deck by Covetalchemy

This Oracle deck was created with the classical themes of unrequited love, twin flame and soulmate energy. These novels and themes are quite relevant today, as they are loved around the world. Each card has a theme followed by a quote from famous Classic Victorian Gothic Novels. The deck is a blending of quotes from Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë and Jane Austen (Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, Mansfield Park, Emma, Northanger Abbey and Persuasion).

The Twin Flames in Separation Oracle Deck by Liv Tarot

Separation Messages Oracle gives you 77 messages from your twin flame or soulmate’s higher self. This deck is for those who find themselves separated from their twin flames, soulmates or partners, withstanding little to no contact. These messages reveal what may be too difficult for your love to express: their thoughts and feelings toward your connection. The duration of separation, whether it has been a short amount of time or many years, does not matter.

Gratitude Grams by Rachel Desrochers

Gratitude Grams get you out of your head and into your heart. These cards are beneficial for when you’re feeling stuck, trapped inside your own head, or feeling alone. It is a great tool to support where you are now and where you are going. Designed to remind you what a divine, beautiful being you are and how the world is a better place with you in it. These cards will help you build your gratitude practice.

Messages of Love Oracle Cards from All Things Intuitive

This 54-card, candid romance oracle deck answers questions about love, sex, twin flames, soulmates, past-life connections and more. These cards are designed for any type of relationship. Take each message as it resonates. The deck can be used alone, as clarifies for tarot or alongside other oracle decks.

DECK THE HALLS WITH HOLIDAY ART

Posted on December 14, 2020 by Charles Levin - Art, Card Designers, Custom Design, Entertainment, History, Playing Cards

Countless artists in the social media community have submitted their talented holiday/winter-themed designs to our December Card Art competition (closes Dec. 31). Each piece has already made this holiday season feel merry and bright. You can find entry examples at the end of this article. For now, let’s take a look at some holiday artwork that certainly goes down in history… just like good old Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.

Holiday Book Art

Christmas

Clement Clarke Moore’s “The Night Before Christmas,” also known as “A Visit from St. Nicholas,” is a Christmas poem classic filled with colorful imagery to describe one Christmas Eve night. Through both imagery and text, a face is famously put to the icon that is Santa Claus: A jolly old elf with deep rosy cheeks and a round tummy. Moore also pushes the concept of Santa’s reindeer, which was first mentioned in A New Year’s Present, to the Little Ones from Five to Twelve Number III: The Children’s Friend, an anonymous 16-page booklet published in 1821 by a New York publisher named William Gilley. Excerpt from The Children’s Friend:

Old Santeclaus with much delight His reindeer drives this frosty night. O’er chimneytops, and tracks of snow, To bring his yearly gifts to you.

Moore’s holiday story and the art that goes along with it, is widely known in households across America. Since its publication in 1823, hundreds of artists have tried their talented hands at illustrating this timeless story. Here are a few examples of artist’s cover art as well as a Coca-Cola advertisement based on the book.

Artist Unknown (1889)

Artists: Hilda Miloche and Wilma Kane (1947)

Artist: Marcin Nowakowski

Since the 1920s, Coca-Cola has included Santa Claus in ads

Hanukkah

Publishers often incorporate every major holiday into their children’s books, especially under big brand names like Curious George and Corduroy. This not only allows children from all backgrounds to feel included but also opens a plethora of doorways for artists to showcase their talent in a family-friendly and educational way.

Artists: H. A. Rey & Margret Rey

Artist: Lisa McCue

Artist: Amy Wummer

Kwanzaa

Picture books help children grasp the holiday, and while the text is undeniably important but for young kids, it is the artwork that first draws them into the story.

Artist: Arielle Phoenix

Artist: Karen Katz

Artist: Constanza Basaluzzo

Christmas Biblical Art

Artist: Pieter Bruegel the Elder – The Census at Bethlehem

There’s a lot going on in this 1566 Pieter Bruegel the Elder oil painting. At first glance, you’ll notice a few things that may remind you of the holiday season: snow sticking to the ground; hustling to run errands; walking shoulder-to-shoulder with family and friends. But let’s dig a little deeper. Bruegel takes words and transforms them into visual art, displaying a visual scene from the Gospel of Luke, chapter 2, verses 1 to 5: “In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered in their own towns. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth to the city of David called Bethlehem … with Mary with whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child.” Chaos fills the canvas as children throw snowballs, adults congregate to pay taxes and villagers fulfill daily tasks. Amid such contemporary normalcy, Bruegel weaves in the biblical excerpt above. To explore this piece further, click here.

Winter Art

Our manufacturing facility is located in Orlando, Florida, so it’s nearly impossible for us to experience a winter wonderland holiday. But for those of you who have to shovel snow while waiting for your car to warm up, here are a few stunning, and probably familiar, holiday pieces that we believe capture the essence of Winter.

The Magpie by Claude Monet – Courtesy of claude-monet.com

Winter Landscape by Wassily Kandinsky – Courtesy of wassilykandinsky.net/

Moonlit Night. Winter by Konstantin Korovin – Courtesy of arthive.com/konstantinkorovin

December Card Art Entries

This provides a lovely transition into today’s artists who have submitted original holiday art to our competition. The winner, which will be voted on and announced during the first week of January, will receive 10 poker-sized playing card decks with their submitted artwork on the card backs. Here are the winners from our October Art Contest: Marna Blakewell and Brittni Barraco. Below are some awesome submissions we’ve received so far: The last chance to submit (max of 3 designs) is Dec. 31 at 11:59 p.m.

Artist: @susanashleypaints

Artist: @grindelldesign

Artist: @brittnibeeart (October Contest Winner)

Artist: @tinac28

Artist: @kerelukallana

Custom Holiday Cards

Personalize a playing card deck for any holiday! When you create with us, we strive to ensure your vision meets reality. This means that our team of project managers and graphic designers work with you every step of the way. For more information about our products and services, feel free to call us anytime at 407-298-3579.

Shuffled Ink is a multigenerational family business that specializes in printing custom playing cards, tarot & flash cards, packaging and more for businesses and individuals worldwide. To receive complimentary samples of our card products include your delivery address and phone number on your custom request a quote form. ● Official Shuffled Ink website: ShuffledInk ● Make Your Own Custom Playing Cards at: ShuffledInk

CHOOSING THE PERFECT TAROT OR ORACLE DECK

Posted on November 30, 2020 by Charles Levin - Affirmation Cards, Art, Astrology, Card Collectors, Card Designers, Client Feature, Custom Design, Entertainment, How To, Oracle Cards, Tarot Cards

If there’s a deck you wish to possess, but it doesn’t exist yet, then you must create it.

Tarot beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Not every single deck or card you choose will resonate, so it may take some time to find your tarot/oracle niche. And that’s where we come in!

At Shuffled Ink, our clients create by design and without limits. They are artists who channel creativity and develop their own guidelines. Having worked alongside a tremendous amount of these talented creators and illustrators, we’ve gathered an extensive collection of mystic cards that we’re excited to share with you!

Hopefully, one of these decks will speak to you, or perhaps inspiration will strike and you’ll customize a set of your own!

Lexa Luna Studio

“Be a good ancestor. Stand for something bigger than yourself. Add value to the Earth during your sojourn.” — Marian Wright Edelman, Activist

The Future Ancestor Tarot Deck

Our client, Alexa Villanueva, created this sacred tarot deck during quarantine. She used sumi ink, water color paper, scissors & fallen leaves and flowers from her surrounding home in Seattle, Washington. A love letter of hope, gratitude and commitment live and breathe in the card’s illustrations and translations.

The Future Ancestor Tarot deck pays tribute to those who came before us by honoring the land beneath our toes. When we are actively responsible for our own actions, we pave the way for future generations who will live on this Earth long after we are gone.

Goal: To connect you with your intuition & dreams; to provide one with a sense of comfort, grounding and guidance
Level: Beginner or seasoned reader
Number of cards: 78, including Major and Minor Arcana & a custom tuck-box
Guide Pamphlet

All Things Intuitive TM

“Take each message as it resonates.” — Kris, Founder of ATI

All Things Intuitive founder, Kris, is an oracle creator and reader. Established in 2019, her mission is to provide independently created oracle cards and products to those looking to exercise divination tools, regardless of experience. All of the Oracle decks listed below are available in our Client Shop.

The Hidden Truth

Through your looking glass, seek knowledge about and answers from your Divine Masculine, Divine Feminine, a former love, your own higher self, their higher self, and/or a lost love? Simply ask to receive The Hidden Truth.

The Hidden Truth v2

Messages of Love

This candid romance oracle deck, the Messages of Love, answers questions about love, sex, twin flames, soulmates, past-life connections, and more. This deck is designed for any type of relationship.

Messages of Closure

Messages of Closure is a 54-card oracle deck created for those who have unfinished business with someone who has passed away.

The person you’re trying to connect with may have been a spouse or significant other, a parent or grandparent, a friend, or nearly anyone. This oracle card deck can help to provide the answers you seek, especially if the relationship was difficult.

In the Shadows

The In the Shadows deck holds energy for healing, cleansing and universal love.

What do you need to know about your person? What do you need to understand about your person? These shadow messages can give you insight into your connection. If you prefer straightforward messages, then this may work for you.

Everyday Magic

“After much trial and tribulation the deck named itself the Wayhome Tarot.” — Bakara Wintner & Autumn Whitehurst, Wayhome Creators

Wayhome Tarot

Everyday Magic is an online shop that sells tarot and oracle cards, crystals, home goods and bath products. We’ve manufactured a handful of decks for this wonderful company, including the two featured below.

May we all find our way home through Wayhome Tarot. Filled with 78 images that cast a familiar feeling to the receiver. This deck is for any person who is willing to allow magic to seep into their daily human lives.

This Durham-based company is among my personal favorites. Another one of their decks, the Postcards from the Liminal Space (which unfortunately is sold out), sits on my own desk. I find myself flipping through the cards to admire its detailed illustrations and, at times, even use its insight to channel sense in mundane things.

REBEL

“They have the messages you may not want to hear, but you need to hear.” –Shannon Gomez, Creator of REBEL Deck

Rebel Deck (the original) If you’re looking for a light, funny and raw oracle experience, then Shannon Gomez’ REBEL Deck is best suited for you. Introducing divination with a modern twist and cards that do not hold back.

Rebel Deck (Couples Edition)

Connecting with others is just as important as connecting with yourself. The REBEL Deck Couples Edition is authentic, rebellious and foul-mouthed. Simply ask the cards what you and your partner need to know right now. These messages will tell it like it is with no interpretation necessary.

Both decks include:

60 cards
58 message cards, 1 cover card and 1 instruction card
For the “Here and Now”
Premium Card Stock 330gsm Black Core
Each card measures approx. 2.75″ x 4.75″
Shrink-Wrapped Matte Custom Tuck Box
Makes for a unique gift
Unicorns NOT INCLUDED

Indie Deck Hub

In August, Gomez launched Indie Deck Hub, a digital marketplace that specializes in independently created card decks. This is a space for creators to sell their products and for indie supporters to buy decks directly from the creator.

Three Trees Tarot

“Beautiful tarot cards with roots in the enchanting, natural world.” — Stephanie Burrows, Creator of Three Trees

Oak, Ash & Thorn Deck

For nature lovers. In folklore, the site of oak, ash and thorn trees entwined on a hillside mark the dwelling of spirits or the entrance to the other world. These trees come together with a collection of woodland animals to create a stunning and unique tarot art deck.

Eco-friendly
83 cards total, equipped with the standard 78 (22 Major Arcana, 56 Minor Arcana) + two companion reference cards, a secret bonus card and two additional art cards
Custom Tuck Box
Eco-friendly
400 gsm card stock, matte finish with anti-scuff laminate

They will be restocking on Nov. 25, 2020. Follow their media platforms for more updates.

The Oak, Ash & Thorn Deck was created by Stephanie Burrows and illustrated by Adam Oehlers.

Finding Your Tarot Deck

Hopefully this list has shown you that there’s undoubtedly a tarot and/or oracle deck out there for you. But if nothing piqued your interest, then here’s my advice to you. Playing off a quote about books by the late American Novelist Toni Morrison, if there’s a deck you wish to possess, but it doesn’t exist yet, then you must create it.

THE HISTORY OF ART & DESIGN

Posted on November 24, 2020 by Charles Levin - Art, Custom Design, Entertainment, History, Playing Cards

Style. Technique. Time period. These are just a few details that critics look for when placing artists into art movements. Art has a long history, which means pure originality may be rare at this point, but this isn’t to say that innovative art concepts are completely nonexistent. If anything, art’s extensive past provides contemporary artists with an endless supply of ideas to sample from. It’s likely that even your custom playing card and tarot designs emulate artwork that originated several millenniums ago. Let’s take a look!

Ancient Cave Art (B.C.E)

The earliest homo sapiens who walked the Earth etched and painted animals, human hands, symbols, etc. onto cave walls and rocks. What may look like simple drawings today are, in actuality, novelties. These are among the first pictures known to humankind, paving the way for future artists to advance the art form.

Rock shelter in India. ~ 13,000 B.C.E.

Drawings of a gaur, or Indian Bison, and human-like figures.

Frozen in time for us to reflect on, the clay illustration above heeds warnings of the Indian Bison’s threat toward humankind. Journalist Jo Marchant and photographer Justin Mott visited the caves where art and design were born, and in 2016, the Smithsonian Magazine published their article “A Journey to the Oldest Cave Paintings in the World”. These drawings and engravings tell stories, some of survival methods, others of fatal demises. But all with the intent to inform. While the names of the first artists may remain unknown forever, we recognize their tremendous impact on establishing art, whether they understood its future significance or not.

Medieval

Mosaic Art

As time progressed, so did the the intricacy of art. The Greeks created mosaics, or floor and wall designs. Artists used small pieces of assorted material like shells, glass, stone, tile and pebbles to produce images like the one below. This medieval art style captured ancient lives, from their appearances and clothing attire to religious beliefs.

Church mosaic detail, Athens. Photo by: Helen Miles Mosaics

Renaissance

The European Renaissance focused on finding a new way to embrace life; a means for rebirth. Not only did politics, culture and the economy play into this way of thinking, but so did art. The Mona Lisa is one of the most famous Renaissance portrait paintings. Leonardo da Vinci redefined how women appeared in portrait art. Other artists used jewelry to emphasize status and side profile shots to highlight neutrality. In the Mona Lisa painting, da Vinci manipulates the woman’s mouth into a sly grin. This small but remarkable detail suggests that this Renaissance woman had a mysterious and enigmatic personality, which was an uncommon representation during this time.

Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci

Neoclassicism

Neglecting its art predecessors Baroque and Rococo, Neoclassicism implemented a realistic depiction of life. So, rather than painting with rose-colored glasses on, these artists urged to illustrate knowledge with reason. When a new art form surfaces, artists may undermine previous styles and genres, or even try to add their own flare to other works. To be frank, art shouldn’t have many restrictions. Artists should have the freedom to reap any style. But many Neoclassicist artists fought to erase art that they did not deem rational like the two previously mentioned. This new movement impacted not only art but society as well. The French Revolution was sobering and Neoclassical art mirrored that.

Oath of the Horatii by Jacques-Louis David

Romanticism

Ironically, the next genre to enter the art domain was Romanticism, which fell further from Neoclassical’s rational approach and expressed melodrama and sensationalism. The Age of Reason attitude was pushed to the side, allowing room for encouragement, emotion and ideation. Art does inspire art in many ways. In this case, Romanticism sparked insurgence. “Romanticism is precisely situated neither in choice of subject nor exact truth, but in the way of feeling” — French poet Charles Baudelaire.

Wanderer above the Sea of Fog: Caspar David Friedrich – The Kunsthalle (Hamburg)

Academic

This movement condemned creative liberties, dictating nearly every aspect of the piece. I wrote that art shouldn’t have many restrictions, but during the Academism period, artists adhered to strict, conventional formulas taught at the French Academy of Fine Arts, or Academie des Beaux-Arts and other European institutions. Academic art professionals, critics and teachers during this time would probably laugh at the phrase, “anyone can be anything.” If you weren’t already prestigious at the craft or didn’t know someone who could pull strings, then being part of the academic movement was probably not in the cards for you.

The Shepherdess by William-Adolphe Bouguereau.

Symbolism

Let’s travel to the beginning of the 20th century, when art spiraled into daunting images of skulled faces, morbid death, and immoral spirits. This work is comparable to Romanticism. Both intend to capture emotion, but they do so in wildly different ways. In a literature or art class, you may have been asked, “What is the deeper meaning?” On a few occasions, perhaps you could not find the depth in someone’s work. Well, if it wasn’t painstakingly obvious by the title, every single speck of symbolist art is meant to be symbolic and meaningful. The image below shows death taking the soul of a grave digger. This symbolizes how death creeps up and can take one’s life at any moment.

The Death of the Grave Digger by Carlos Schwabe

Expressionism

Taking a page from Symbolist art, Expressionism was also full of dark disturbances. One characteristic that separates these artforms, is the use of unconventional human appearances. In “The Death of the Grave Digger,” death is portrayed by a beautiful slender woman. If an Expressionist artist were to remake that painting, the soul-taker would look more haggard and disfigured.

Cardplaying by Otto Dix

Abstract

In 1910, this type of art resurfaced with a new name to account for prehistoric drawings like religious symbols and various shapes carved into stone. Of course, these artists had access to more than just knives and stone, as well as loads of knowledge from past creators. Impersonal shapes, figures and colors decorated the canvases, lacking a clear subject.

Composition 5 (1911) by Vassily Kandinsky

Contemporary Art

Abstract, surrealism, photorealism, pop art, conceptualism, minimalism, street art — these are just some styles that fall under contemporary, or present-day art. All artists create in their own distinct way. At Shuffled Ink, we manufacture custom products like playing cards, games and tarot. This allows our client innovators to design without limits. In October, to reach out to more artists in the card community, we hosted a Card Art contest. The idea was to promote originality in one’s craft. Its structure intentionally resembled the canvases our contestants would be drawing on — blank and open for opportunity. During our month-long competition, we received hundreds of submissions from insanely talented artists. After learning a bit about these art movements, it may be easier to group these artists into certain categories. Featured below are some pieces entered to #ShuffledInkArt on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

1st contest winner. Submission by Marna Blakewell

2nd contest winner. Submission by Brittni Barranco

Among the 5 finalists. Submission by @mad_is_sin_gremlin

Among the 5 finalists. Submission by @zhade_evgenia

Among the 5 finalists. Submission by @joe_livingston_illustration

As long as there are thoughts, ideas and talented hands, art will continue to evolve. We can’t wait to see what’s to come. Shuffled Ink specializes in printing customized playing cards and games as well as tarot & flash cards for business, personal, promotional, advertising, and/or marketing purposes. ● Official Shuffled Ink website: ShuffledInk ● Make Your Own Custom Playing Cards at: ShuffledInk ● Make Your Own Custom Tarot Cards at: ShuffledInk ● Make Your Own Custom Card Games at: ShuffledInk

AN INTRODUCTION TO PLAYING CARDS AND COLLECTING BY VETERAN COLLECTORS TOM AND JUDY DAWSON

Posted on November 13, 2020 by EndersGame - Card Collectors, Card Designers, Card Games, Custom Design, Entertainment, History, Playing Cards, Poker Cards

Who are Tom and Judy Dawson?

Once in a while, while traversing the wilds of the internet, you unexpectedly come across an outstanding resource. That’s exactly what happened to me when I came across a fantastic video featuring playing card collectors Tom and Judy Dawson, where they talk about playing cards as part of a 40 minute interview. Before I show you the video, you need to know a thing or two about Tom and Judy, who hail from Toronto, Canada. They are not your every-day playing card collectors. Tom was a former President of 52 Plus Joker, the American Playing Card Collectors Club, and was an active member until his sad passing away in 2016. At the time, they had the unique distinction of being the only members who had attended all 29 conventions up to that point, and Judy was editor of their newsletter for some 28 years. She remains involved on an executive level, and the club’s official website designates her as “Club Queen”.

They can rightly be considered experts in their field, and their credentials as authorities on the subject of playing cards is confirmed by an important work they co-authored and completed: Gene Hochman’s authoritative Hochman Encyclopedia of American Playing Cards. This four volume set of books was originally the creation of respected collector Gene Hochman, and was first published between 1976-1981. Very few people would have sufficient knowledge and expertise to revise and expand a work of this sort, but that’s exactly what Tom and Judy Dawson did with this impressive series of keystone books. With a main focus is on American playing cards, as the title indicates, it is a comprehensive guide to various decks of playing cards that were produced in the United States from the late 18th century onwards. As part of its catalogue it includes important information on scarcity, and besides covering individual decks it also covers different producers and brands. For serious collectors, it’s an essential reference tool. Lee Asher, the current president of 52 Plus Joker, offers this glowing praise for this book: “This is the best resource on collecting American playing cards, ever written. They took all of long-time collector Eugene Hochman’s research, and compiled it into one big volume.”

In 2013, Ben Train interviewed Tom and Judy about playing cards, as part of Chris Mayhew’s “Series of Unfortunate Effects”. In this interview, Tom and Judy share some valuable information about the history of playing cards, different ways that they are used, as well as advice about being a collector, and much more. It was made available online by the current president of 52 Plus Joker, Lee Asher. The video is 38 minutes long, and I highly recommend watching it in entirety. In the material below, I’ve summarized some key things that you’ll learn from this interview, and share some of the material that these two passionate playing card collectors cover.

The Interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOrkv8chxvw

History of Playing Cards

The interview starts with Tom giving a broad overview of the history and development of playing cards. While we can’t be certain of their true origins, this is likely in the Far East, possibly as an easier and cheaper way of playing chess-style war games. From here they eventually made their way through the Middle East and North Africa into Western Europe, and that’s where the first definite record of playing cards can be found in the late 1300s. Italians, French, and Spanish playing cards weren’t standardized like today, but used suits with a variety of symbols such as clubs, swords, and bells, and also had varying numbers of cards in a deck. The French were especially renowned for their playing card manufacturers, and today’s playing cards are largely based on old French designs. The backs of playing cards were originally blank, but over time things were added like images on the card backs, corner indices, double ended artwork for the court cards, and coatings on the paper. Playing cards were at one time called “pasteboards”, and were originally thick and bulky. But improvements in manufacturing led to thinner playing cards, with improved quality and handling. Prior to the adoption of indices, one manufacturer used miniature pictures of the card on opposite corners, which were called “Triplicates”, and the indices we use today were developed in competition to these, and were first described as “Squeezers” in light of the ability to hold a larger hand of cards. I was especially fascinated by Tom Dawson’s observation that although many people have tried to introduce innovations to playing cards, these never last, and the traditional style and designs always return. Evidently there is something truly “classic” about the deck we have inherited today!

Uses for Playing Cards

In this section of the interview, Tom and Judy share some of the fascinating ways playing cards have been used throughout their history, besides more obvious uses like card magic, and for playing the thousands of card games that exist. But even decks used for card games come in different sizes, e.g. containing 32 cards, or 40, 48, 52, and even 78 or more. So a deck of cards can mean a lot of different things, and many of the games played with them are very regional. Playing cards have been used very seriously for fortune telling, sometimes with individual cards having fortune information on them. Tarot decks typically have 78 cards, and each of the 22 trumps in these decks has a different picture and is assigned a different meaning. While such decks are sometimes used for the occult, many of them do have fantastic designs and artwork. This makes them very collectable, and even Tarot decks that are barely 20 years old can be worth large sums. Playing cards were also used for educational purposes (e.g. to teach math, science and more). Souvenir decks have been popular, because they have a picture on each individual card. When these started being produced in the 1890s, photography was still quite new and expensive, so a souvenir deck functioned as a nice miniature photo album. Because cards originally had plain white backs, they proved useful for note-taking, indexing, invitations, coupons, IOUs, and more, especially in a time when paper and cardboard was rare and expensive. Besides these secondary uses, there was even a time in the 1700s in Quebec when they were used as money cards. There are also people who build enormous card houses with playing cards, made out of hundreds of decks of cards. Brian Berg is well worth looking up given some of the unbelievable things he has made out of playing cards.

Card Boxes

In today’s market, some publishers like Theory11 devote a lot of attention to producing high end tuck boxes, and it is a big part of the marketing. While today’s techniques may be new, the idea of an attractive tuck box is not new, and throughout the history of playing cards there have been manufacturers doing interesting things with the card boxes. Tom explains that originally playing cards were just packaged in relatively plain paper wrappers, and there was no box at all. As the 1800s progressed, wrappers made way for something more sturdy, which led to the development of all kinds of boxes. Various interesting packaging was used, including boxes that had outer and inner cases, and small drawers. Congress Playing Cards used a packaging that would display the designs of the deck on the outside of the box. I really enjoyed seeing some of the unique ideas for packaging that Tom and Judy showed in this part of the video. One of my favourites that they displayed was a beautiful war deck from 1935 that was housed inside a book! After showing a lovely custom wooden box for the Circus Transformation Deck that was produced in 1988, Judy explains what transformation decks are, showing some example cards. In transformation decks, the pip cards are transformed into a design, by using the pips as part of the picture. I immediately felt a sense of kinship with the Dawsons at this point, because apparently transformation decks are a favourite for them, just as they are for me.

Collecting Cards

Tom and Judy decided to focus their own collection on standard playing cards (i.e. those with a traditional layout and traditional court cards), primarily older cards that are American in origin. It’s not that they don’t like custom decks, but the simple matter is that if you’re collecting anything you need to specialize in some way and have a focus. Tom gives an extensive list of different kinds of cards that are available to collect, including comic cards, tobacco insert cards, advertising cards, transformation cards, and war cards. All the wars have been commemorated in playing cards, as are many births and other important events in the lives of royalty. Judy puts it well: “You can actually create a whole history from playing cards.” She’s absolutely right, and in that respect playing cards are a mirror of life. Besides people who collect decks, there are also those who only collect single cards. This is usually due to their interest in the card backs, and they might specialize in backs on a particular topic like horses or landscapes. But there also people who only collect a particular card, like a Joker, or the Ace of Spades, in light of its special design and the name of the maker, effectively making it like the title page of a book. Judy considers collectors of Jokers the bane of other collectors, because these are one of the most prized parts of a deck, and a deck that is otherwise complete but missing an unusual Joker drops significantly in value. The condition of your cards is also important, and this is something Tom and Judy know more than a thing or two about, not just from their own experience, but also as authors of the Hochman book. Obviously the less used a deck is, the more valuable it is. Judy also makes some very good remarks about how a modern deck that is purchased and preserved won’t nearly have the same value as an older deck that is preserved. There are plenty of collectors today who have limited edition versions of modern decks, while in contrast vintage playing cards are much more scarce since they were typically bought in order to be used rather than collected. This is one reason the Dawson’s own interest is especially in old decks, or decks that were only produced in extremely limited editions (e.g. only 50 produced). Tom points out that a nice aspect about collecting playing cards is that you get the opportunity to do research and learn about your decks. There’s a lot of great books that can assist with this. There are also playing card clubs like 52 Plus Joker, and similar clubs in other countries, so there’s a lot of good resources available.

Show and Tell

In the final ten minutes or so of the video, Tom and Judy show us a range of different playing cards to illustrate some of the things they’ve covered. One deck shown is extremely scarce, with only 50 made. There’s even an example of a valuable deck of which only seven total were made; Tom and Judy believe that these decks were withdrawn before going up for sale. You’ll also see a card from a deck published in 1950, where the entire deck would be worth $15,000, and you’ll see a single card picturing a baseball hall-of-famer that on its own is worth up to $1500. As well as a range of historic Aces of Spades, a range of old Jokers is also shown, many from different advertising decks. Decks that advertise famous companies like Coca Cola are even more prized, since there are so many collectors of Coca Cola memorabilia around the world. Tobacco insert cards often featured lively burlesque artwork, and because they were released individually, people had to collect these decks one card at a time, making a complete deck of these even more prized. A charming music-themed German deck from around 1850 has cards with spectacular designs that can be placed alongside each other to produce a complete piece of music. You’ll even see a card from one of the 1805 Cotta transformation decks, and some other terrific examples of cards from old transformation decks.

Conclusion

Impressions

Tom and Judy’s passion for playing cards really shines through in this wonderful interview. From how comfortable they are with the subject material, it’s very evident that they are experts who are extremely knowledgeable. They were obviously a great team, and extremely respectful of each other, giving each other opportunity to share from their wealth of knowledge. Given that the focus of their own collection is on older standard playing cards, not everything they say applies to modern custom decks. Even so, there’s still a lot that can be learned from what they have to say, and my own knowledge about collecting playing cards was enhanced by learning about an area that I don’t have as much first-hand experience with myself. I also really enjoyed the opportunity to see some rare decks from the early 1900s and some playing cards that even hailed from the 1800s. I highly recommend that playing card enthusiasts take the time to watch the whole video, and learn from this lovely couple, who are keen to inspire others in the wonderful hobby of collecting playing cards.

Where next?

With their dedication and enthusiasm as collectors, Tom and Judy have left a legacy for us all. Not only can we benefit from the Hochman Encyclopedia they helped write, but we can also continue their passion for playing cards. Especially if you are a serious collector with an interest in American playing cards, here’s what you can do next: ● Get the book: If American playing cards are your thing, the Hochman Encyclopedia co-authored by the Dawsons is a must have. It also contains helpful information about grading and dating playing cards. If you’re interested in learning more about this, Tom explains the grading system they use in a separate interview clip that you can listen to here. Lee Asher also has two excellent articles which I highly recommend in relation to this. The first is about How to date a deck of USPCC playing cards, and the second is about How to grade playing cards. The grading scale that he presents there is taken straight from the Hochman Encyclopedia, and gives descriptions for how to grade a deck of cards into one of the following categories, on a sliding scale: As Issued, Mint, Excellent, Good, Poor, and With Faults. ● Join the club: The 52 Plus Joker Club has been around since 1985, and was originally created to meet the needs of American collectors of antique playing cards. The scope has since broadened, and what they offer today includes things like a printed and digital club magazine, an annual club deck, and playing card auctions. The highlight of 52 Plus Joker is undoubtedly the club’s annual convention in October, which is where collectors, designers, manufacturers, and enthusiasts come together to talk about playing cards, listen to lectures, buy and sell, receive awards, and much more. The Dawson Award is one of the awards given, and is a special achievement award named after Tom and Judy. ● Go to the convention: Attending the annual 52 Plus Joker convention is a highlight for playing card enthusiasts, although in 2020 the convention was held online using video conferencing, due to current COVID-19 restrictions. Check out the Convention page to find out more. Want to learn more? Visit 52 Plus Joker, the American Playing Card Collectors Club. ● Official links: Official website, Conventions, Instagram, Facebook ● Interviews: Lee Asher (President), Don Boyer (Vice-President)