“Vanity Fair” Transformation Playing Cards No.41

[Siegismyname]

Was doing some research on playing cards and I came across this transformation deck. Similar to the ultimate deck and the curator deck, I found this deck very inspiring. Anyone knows anything else about this deck? Would love to get my hands on one.

[Don Boyer]

http://www.wopc.co.uk/usa/uspcc/vanity-fair.html

The deck is, I believe, over a century old.  It was first printed in 1895 and I don't know if it was reprinted after that.  Tom Dawson (board name: 52plusjoker) would know more - you should pick up his book if you're planning to get into decks like these.  http://www.amazon.com/Hochman-Encyclopedia-American-Playing-Cards/dp/1572812990  Another member here with that kind of knowledge might be Johnathan Rock - you know him as JMRock.

This particular deck, as far as I can tell, was recently (as in within the past few years) selling in eBay auctions for about the price of a Jerry's Nugget in the open market today.  Ballpark it at between $200-400, but as I said, I'm not the authority on this.

[Siegismyname]

Yeah. I got my pictures from wopc actually. Those can be really pricey eh.

[Don Boyer]

Yeah. I got my pictures from wopc actually. Those can be really pricey eh.

I know they were made originally in 1895 - 118 years ago.  That's a long time.  I don't know if it was continued for a while or what, but I do know they're not only old but highly sought-after by many collectors.

The only way you might find one on the cheap would be to either buy a deck in less-than-ideal condition or buy swap cards - individual cards from the deck rather than the whole deck.  The thing about swap cards is that for a deck like this, where every single face is completely unique, you're going to want the whole thing - singles are more for people interested in a deck's back design, in which case all the non-ad cards will have the same backs and most of the decks collected will have a more standard face design.

I think as playing cards progress deeper into "custom deck" territory, especially full-custom, I suspect that singles will lose some popularity.  The new decks will be so unique, people will want the whole thing - to do otherwise would be to miss out on some impressive art.  But that's just my educated guess.

[Paul Carpenter]

Rare, very old transformation decks like that are highly prized and can easily run into many hundreds of dollars from what I have heard from serious collectors of that type of deck. Finding a good condition, complete deck like that one would be a costly challenge I'm sure.

[jmrock]

I've placed many a bid on these decks… I love them… I've seen them in a Variety of colors and back designs… I will say that I haven't seen all that many Vintage USPCC transformation decks, so this deck holds a special place in my heart… I've seen them go for under $100 to over $300… I am still waiting to find a complete deck with box in great condition that will not destroy my pocket… Referring to another board, this is one of the few decks that I wouldn't mind having open to see the artistry involved… (Although I'd still take a sealed deck first)…

[Siegismyname]

I would make an uncut sheet and frame it up

[Don Boyer]

I would make an uncut sheet and frame it up

You're talking about a century-old deck, my friend.  Were you planning to reglue the sheet back together from the individual cards or something?  Uncut sheets are just that - UNCUT, while playing cards are cut!  People didn't get uncut sheets off the printer back then - the cards were not thought of as terribly collectible by the people who were making them.  You used them up and bought more - otherwise, no one would buy new decks and the printers would close shop!

[Siegismyname]

U know what I mean . "Uncut" sheet. How would you call it then?

[Don Boyer]

U know what I mean . "Uncut" sheet. How would you call it then?

Actually, I don't.  You're talking about taking a deck of loose, cut-out playing cards and as if by using a torn-and-restored trick, reassembling them back to the uncut sheet they were punched out of at the factory.  You might not realize it, but that's what you said, in essence.  If you were talking about making a print based on the deck design, or framing the individual cards to loosely simulate the look of an uncut sheet, that would be another story, but it's still unclear what you wanted to do.

[10ofclubs]

U know what I mean . "Uncut" sheet. How would you call it then?

Actually, I don't.  You're talking about taking a deck of loose, cut-out playing cards and as if by using a torn-and-restored trick, reassembling them back to the uncut sheet they were punched out of at the factory.  You might not realize it, but that's what you said, in essence.  If you were talking about making a print based on the deck design, or framing the individual cards to loosely simulate the look of an uncut sheet, that would be another story, but it's still unclear what you wanted to do.

Don, that sounds like a sweet magic trick. Taking the Torn & Restored to a new level and restoring a deck of cards into an uncut sheet. Not sure how it would work, but I think it'd be a sweet ass stage trick.
Sorry to interrupt the thread, but I had to say it.

[Siegismyname]

U know what I mean . "Uncut" sheet. How would you call it then?

Actually, I don't.  You're talking about taking a deck of loose, cut-out playing cards and as if by using a torn-and-restored trick, reassembling them back to the uncut sheet they were punched out of at the factory.  You might not realize it, but that's what you said, in essence.  If you were talking about making a print based on the deck design, or framing the individual cards to loosely simulate the look of an uncut sheet, that would be another story, but it's still unclear what you wanted to do.

Framing the loose cards to simulate an uncut is exactly what I envisioned.

U know what I mean . "Uncut" sheet. How would you call it then?

Actually, I don't.  You're talking about taking a deck of loose, cut-out playing cards and as if by using a torn-and-restored trick, reassembling them back to the uncut sheet they were punched out of at the factory.  You might not realize it, but that's what you said, in essence.  If you were talking about making a print based on the deck design, or framing the individual cards to loosely simulate the look of an uncut sheet, that would be another story, but it's still unclear what you wanted to do.

Don, that sounds like a sweet magic trick. Taking the Torn & Restored to a new level and restoring a deck of cards into an uncut sheet. Not sure how it would work, but I think it'd be a sweet ass stage trick.
Sorry to interrupt the thread, but I had to say it.

Indeed it sounds like an awesome stage routine.

[Don Boyer]

Don, that sounds like a sweet magic trick. Taking the Torn & Restored to a new level and restoring a deck of cards into an uncut sheet. Not sure how it would work, but I think it'd be a sweet ass stage trick.
Sorry to interrupt the thread, but I had to say it.

More like a TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT&RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR trick... 

[Siegismyname]

I've placed many a bid on these decks… I love them… I've seen them in a Variety of colors and back designs… I will say that I haven't seen all that many Vintage USPCC transformation decks, so this deck holds a special place in my heart… I've seen them go for under $100 to over $300… I am still waiting to find a complete deck with box in great condition that will not destroy my pocket… Referring to another board, this is one of the few decks that I wouldn't mind having open to see the artistry involved… (Although I'd still take a sealed deck first)…

you now have one more contender for it on eBay. Haha.

[52plusjoker]

A mint Vanity Fair would be $500-600. Still sealed in the box? Add $200 more. They are great decks with clever transformations on every card except the comic courts. We have seen countless old decks nicely mounted with corners on good [acid free] backing and framed to make a neat 'picture' for the wall.

[Don Boyer]

Tom, glad to see you're back!

It's not hard to imagine why it would fetch such prices.  Someone should make the cards into a pattern for wallpaper!

[52plusjoker]

Tom, glad to see you're back!

It's not hard to imagine why it would fetch such prices.  Someone should make the cards into a pattern for wallpaper!

Supply and demand perhaps??

Use gold companies' stock certificates for wallpaper - cheaper!