Collecting Collections: Vintage Playing Cards

Contributor post by Lisa Congdon

As someone who collects a lot of stuff, I am often asked what “new” favorite collection I have. And it just so happens that I have a new passion right now: vintage playing cards. Some of my current favorites in my collection are pictured above. 

Photo by Valeriana Solaris

Unlike many collectors of vintage playing cards, I’m less interested in acquiring a full, complete deck. Instead, I’m happy to find just one single card! In fact, I love finding lone, abandoned cards that I can add to my collection of misfit vintage playing cards (not that I won’t take a complete deck when I can find one at the right price!).

I am drawn to playing cards for many reasons: the beautiful artwork, the worn, vintage look, the typography, the odd sizes. It turns out I am not the only one who loves vintage playing cards! There is even a website called Antique Playing Card Source!

This image from{frolic!}

I am mostly drawn to really old playing cards (pre-1930), but I also love decks from the mid-century, like this modern deck via Words& Eggs:

Interested in collecting vintage playing cards? I like this informative little article by Collector’s Weekly for more information. 

I’m off to hunt more vintage playing cards. What is your latest collecting obsession?

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Lisa Congdon
Artist, illustrator
Author, A Collection a Day
Website: www.lisacongdon.com
Blog: www.lisacongdon.com/blog
A Collection a Day: www.collectionaday.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/lisacongdon