New member collecting vintage decks

[dcbrown]

Hi, I'm a new member but not a new collector. I've been collecting gambling related stuff for years. First it was vintage casino chips from the many underground casinos that were everywhere here in Chicago back in the 1930s and 40s. From there my collection grew to include anything related to the underground gambling in the area, including the many casino equipment distributors that made Chicago home. Crooked dice and other "gaffed" gambling equipment, Faro equipment including old gaffed dealing boxes, are all things I am into. The desire to have some vintage cards to display in my antique dealing boxes got me started on vintage cards.

My card collecting is mostly limited to old faro decks and "serious" American decks from 1965 or earlier. Also on the lookout for pre-1900 European decks, especially the simpler styles that look like they'd be at home in a smoke-filled room. I find the idea of designing decks intriguing, but I have no interest in collecting anyone else's custom decks. This is horribly hypocritical of me, I know. Sorry!

I've already learned a lot just by lurking here for a while, and hope to learn much more by actively participating.

[Don Boyer]

Hi, I'm a new member but not a new collector. I've been collecting gambling related stuff for years. First it was vintage casino chips from the many underground casinos that were everywhere here in Chicago back in the 1930s and 40s. From there my collection grew to include anything related to the underground gambling in the area, including the many casino equipment distributors that made Chicago home. Crooked dice and other "gaffed" gambling equipment, Faro equipment including old gaffed dealing boxes, are all things I am into. The desire to have some vintage cards to display in my antique dealing boxes got me started on vintage cards.

My card collecting is mostly limited to old faro decks and "serious" American decks from 1965 or earlier. Also on the lookout for pre-1900 European decks, especially the simpler styles that look like they'd be at home in a smoke-filled room. I find the idea of designing decks intriguing, but I have no interest in collecting anyone else's custom decks. This is horribly hypocritical of me, I know. Sorry!

I've already learned a lot just by lurking here for a while, and hope to learn much more by actively participating.

I wouldn't call it hypocritical, really - you simply have a focus for your collection, that's all.

If you're ever into fun gambling demo stuff, I do alterations to decks of cards, turning them into weapons in the hands of the right card sharp!