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Off Topic Chat => Introduce Yourself => Topic started by: BeDoubleYou on April 16, 2014, 01:50:50 AM

Title: Pleasure to be here!
Post by: BeDoubleYou on April 16, 2014, 01:50:50 AM
Hey guys, I'm Bill. I'm 21 and I was born in Cincinnati, OH so I guess its a convenient place to grow up loving playing cards. I've been collecting cards for a big part of my life now, but haven't had money to spend on it up until relatively recently.

My favorite deck of cards are the D&D steamboats (though I don't think they are quite like the originals) even though I'm usually more into collecting commemorative or advertisment type of decks.

I really am kinda shocked a place like this exists, for a long time I've kinda been doing the collecting thing as a way of investing what little I made in allowance and now I'm surrounded by people who are living their dreams with their artwork and other people who share this great past time.

I love everything about this hobby from the smell ofresh paper and ink, to the artistic nature, even the history of playing cards is fascinating.

Anyways, I look forward to meeting all of you.
Title: Re: Pleasure to be here!
Post by: Don Boyer on April 16, 2014, 02:46:32 AM
Welcome aboard, Bill!  Always glad to have another like mind around.

Please, don't be afraid to ask questions.  We were all newbies once, so we'll go easy on you!

I would say that the D&D Steamboats, while not identical in all ways to the original deck, is actually a reasonably faithful recreation, right down to the smooth texture of the paper.  They're closer to the original than the ones that USPC themselves printed in the late 2000s, because those were embossed rather than smooth!  The Bucks even used the same jokers, at least as were used in the later iterations of the deck that were less racially offensive (early Steamboat jokers had some artwork depicting black people in a racist-stereotypical fashion).

The coating would be a major difference, though.  All late-model custom decks have a coating called "Magic Finish" as the default.  A designer has to actually request the standard finish to receive it from USPC for their project!  It's something I refer to as "the great equalizer" due to how most custom decks handle very close to identically right out of the box.  The recently-curtailed variety of stock thickness also contributed to the trend of most custom cards feelling the same as most other custom cards made in the past few years.

And if I'm not mistaken, I think the Buck Twins used a faux-aged look with a slightly dingy background color.  I don't know how faithful that is to the original, but I'm inclined to guess that it isn't authentic at all to a fresh-out-of-the-box pack of Steamboats from one of the original print runs.

Well, please - tell us a bit more about yourself!  Did you get to see the old Cincinnati plant while it was still in operation?  What kind of decks do you tend to collect?  If a train traveling from New York at a hundred and twenty-five miles an hour makes no stops en route to Albuquerque...wait, never mind that one...  :))
Title: Re: Pleasure to be here!
Post by: BeDoubleYou on April 16, 2014, 09:14:52 AM
You are certianly right that they are more faithful than the newer Bicycle recreations. I think the D&D ones are not quite the originals but its about as close as I think we can get in the modern day.

I generally like to collect promo and ad decks. But its not limited to those decks. Obviously the more tastefully these are done the higher I value them. Decks like the Absolut Vodka (strictly for the handling, its printed on the best paper ever) and JAQK Cellars are examples of custom, tastefully done decks that I tend to collect, but recently I've been putting money into kickstarter projects. I havent been burned yet, thankfully.

I went to see the original factory once with my elementary school class. Dont remember it very well but I've seen the factory in KY and was definitely like a kid in a candy store.

I actually just spent my record for cards just a few weeks ago when I broke the bank for one of each of the Uusi Pagan gilded decks. Preferably gonna keep one and try to acquire a few more elusive decks in a trade for the other but we'll see.
Title: Re: Pleasure to be here!
Post by: 52plusjoker on April 16, 2014, 09:39:50 AM
Hi BeDoubleYou [BW for short]
Great to have you on board - all collectors and pc aficionados are most welcome and they are usually open and sharing people so there is lots to see and learn. Check out the Cellar of Fine Vintages as well as the Plethora and other threads.
Title: Re: Pleasure to be here!
Post by: BeDoubleYou on April 16, 2014, 12:15:12 PM
Those are my initials, it's my idea of a pun, I guess
 Its an inspirational phrase and my initials all in one.
Title: Re: Pleasure to be here!
Post by: HeartQ on April 16, 2014, 01:10:34 PM
Welcome BW (love it!)

Tom and I also love cards.  We have collected for so many years that I have lost track of how long. The area of our collection I really love are the very early USPC decks starting with those that were published under the R&M banner.  We do collect antique cards but we are definitely quite fascinated with all these wonderful new issues coming out.  So much to choose from!

Enjoy!

Title: Re: Pleasure to be here!
Post by: BeDoubleYou on April 17, 2014, 11:37:53 AM
Boy you're not kidding about all the beautiful decks coming out. The Federal 52 series is (in my mind) the new standard for premium custom playing cards. I haven't bought any of them yet unfortunately because I have to pay rent and utilities in addition to eating.

Now that I'm of legal tender, adult beverages are an expense for when I have some free time. Right now I work full time as an opthalmic technician (It's like a nurse that works for eye doctors, but I don't have a nursing degree) but when im not working I enjoy poker with a big group of buddies.
Title: Re: Pleasure to be here!
Post by: Anthony on April 17, 2014, 12:11:14 PM
Welcome to the site Bill! Hope you enjoy the bounty of information and eye candy  ;)
Title: Re: Pleasure to be here!
Post by: BeDoubleYou on April 17, 2014, 01:29:49 PM
Thanks, I appreciate the warm welcome.
Title: Re: Pleasure to be here!
Post by: Rob Wright on April 17, 2014, 05:24:37 PM
Bill, welcome to the forum. You'll have to give us a showing of your collection. Being that you collect advertising, and commemorative decks. I'm sure you have a few unique ones, that most of us have not seen.
Title: Re: Pleasure to be here!
Post by: BeDoubleYou on April 17, 2014, 06:22:51 PM
Sure. I'd be glad to. Some of them are still at my folks' house back in Cincinnati (my new place doesn't have a lot of space) but a lot of my more recent purchases and some of my favorites are here with me. Ill have to work on getting some pictures.
Title: Re: Pleasure to be here!
Post by: Magic_Orthodoxy on June 18, 2014, 06:43:24 PM
welcome aboard BeDoubleYou (BW)  :D