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Pictorial Review: Rare Playing Cards with Old Time Games

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Pictorial Review: Rare Playing Cards with Old Time Games
« on: May 06, 2017, 03:53:59 AM »
 

EndersGame

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RARE PLAYING CARDS WITH OLD TIME GAMES

RarePlayingCards.com has to be one of my new favourite web-sites!  When I stumbled across it for the first time, I could hardly believe the enormous and amazing repository of playing cards available for purchase there. Their online catalogue lists more than 300 different decks of cards, all with image galleries so you can see exactly what you're getting.    But they don't just sell any old playing cards, but only the best: high quality designer decks, from well-known publishers and brands and from obscure designers - hence the "Rare" in Rare Playing Cards!  While the word "Rare" can refer to old things, it is primarily about scarcity - something rare is something that is not found in large numbers.  It's easy to find decks of cheap and low quality playing cards at your nearby supermarket, but it's the more special breed of rarities and custom playing cards that RarePlayingCards sells.  In this review, I will show you some of their decks that I own myself and have first-hand experience with, and I will give you a pictorial overview of them.



Let's start by examining some decks that have a connection with traditional games.  There are many old time games that have a close connection with playing cards, and there are also some wonderful decks available that celebrate traditional use of playing cards, or classic board games like chess.

Glamor Nugget: Gold Edition

Playing cards themselves have a history going back to 12th century Imperial China, and first appeared in Southern Europe in the mid 14th century.  The suits that we are familiar with today (diamonds, clubs, spades and hearts) are considered to be French suits, and originated with the Italian and Spanish suits of cups, clubs, swords, and coins, which are still used in some European decks today, while the German suits of acorns, leaves, hearts, and bells, are also favoured in some locations.  There are many other interesting historical facts about playing cards, but it is no secret that gambling, and particularly poker, has played a big role in popularizing playing cards.  Most cultures have a long history of card games that rely in varying amounts on skill or luck.  But even today, many people still associate playing cards with casinos.  And so, I introduce to you the casino inspired: Glamor Nugget: Gold Edition.

For most card collectors, using the word "Nugget" and "Playing Cards" in the same sentence will immediately get their attention and spark their interest.  Inevitably, they'll think of the Jerry's Nugget playing cards, one of the most iconic and valuable decks of cards you can get.  These decks of playing cards were created for use at Jerry's Nugget Casino in the 1970s, but ended up being sold at the casino's gift store rather than used on the gaming tables.  At the time, they were made from a top of the line USPCC cardstock that is not available today and is thinner than most playing cards, and were produced using a chemical finish that is no longer available today either, and using a process that can't be replicated due to printing methods used today.   They are highly sought after and much loved by collectors and card flourishers alike due to their good handling qualities and increasing scarcity, and can fetch up to $500 for a deck on the secondary market.  There are even online guides for how to spot illegal fakes created by sophisticated counterfeiters in 2008!



Not far behind the Jerry's Nugget Playing Cards, are the Golden Nugget ones.  The Golden Nugget Casino was built in Las Vegas in 1946, and playing cards from the casino produced in the 1960s and 1970s have also become valuable collector's items.  These decks typically command prices of up to $150 on eBay right now.  The playing cards come in a range of colours, including black, brown, blue, red, orange, and a light green.


 
As a tribute to the famous and rare Golden Nugget playing cards, a series of playing cards was made called Glamor Nugget Playing Cards.  They have a retro feel to them, and continue the legend of the Golden Nugget by taking over the style and design of the originals, and are available in a range of many colours (including Blue, Red, Black, Brown, Purple, Orange.)



But the most glamorous of the Glamor Nugget decks is the Gold Edition, and that's the one I'm featuring here.  It evokes the feel of the original Golden Nugget deck, but stands apart from them in that it has gold foil.



The Ace of Spades is patterned after the original Ace of Spades from the Golden Nugget deck, while the card backs are black with gold foil lettering that reads "Glamor Nugget Gambling Hall".



They create the originals very closely, and are almost identical, the main difference being that GOLDEN has been changed to GLAMOR, as this comparison between the joker from each deck shows.



Most of the other cards in the deck are quite standard, but it's the glitz and glamor of the card backs, and its iconic retro feel that makes this a real item of class.



Where to find it: https://rareplayingcards.com/products/glamor-nugget-gold-edition?rfsn=540019.2dd030

Knights deck

The Knights deck draws on a tradition as old playing cards themselves: chess.  While the thought of a serious and lengthy chess game might make the eyes of many modern gamers glaze over, and they might think it no more entertaining than watching paint dry, the reality is that this classic board game is steeped in tradition, and enjoys great popularity the world over.   There are competitive tournaments worldwide, international competitions are held regularly, thousands of games being played online at any given moment, and some of the top young players enjoy a rock star status in the chess world and beyond.

The Knights deck plays tribute to this golden foundation stone of modern gaming, and takes its name from the piece with the unusual movement: The Knight.  The tuck box has a matte finish, with an elegant and distinguished combination of white with gold foil, giving an immediately luxurious and classic appearance.



But the understated tuck box has some real surprises in store - not least this which is this beautiful gold and the iconic knight on the inside of the flap.



The back of the cards has a college of small chess pieces decorating the artwork.



The number cards and court cards feature a uniformity in style, but retain a limited colour palette within the confines of a somewhat traditional look, to enhance the look and feel of complete class.



I especially love the joker, which features a check-mated king and a raven.



This deck was created by Daniel Madison and Chris Ramsay, who will be very familiar names to many in the world of playing cards, due to their association with big name publishers like Ellusionist and Theory11, and creators of many stunning decks.



It's a minimalistic design that has an elegant look due to the shiny gold ink that is used, and the beautiful delicate artwork that was done by Oban Jones, who also created some of the stunning publicity photos.



Where to find it: https://rareplayingcards.com/products/knights?rfsn=540019.2dd030

CONCLUSIONS

If you're in the market for a deck of custom playing cards that is truly creative, artistic, unusual, or memorable, you're not likely to find that at your local corner store. But these are the kinds of rare decks of playing cards that you will find at rareplayingcards.com. Whether you're looking for that one-of-a-kind high end deck for your own enjoyment, or a gift for another gamer, RarePlayingCards.com has something that will suit, and the decks you see here are fine examples.

To see more, head here.

Glamor Nugget Gold Editionhttps://rareplayingcards.com/products/glamor-nugget-gold-edition?rfsn=540019.2dd030
Knights Playing Cards: https://rareplayingcards.com/products/knights?rfsn=540019.2dd030

« Last Edit: May 06, 2017, 07:16:28 AM by EndersGame »
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