Our friend, club President and owner of the Playing Card Forum - Tom Dawson - is in Critical Care in a Toronto hospital, and we would greatly appreciate prayers, best wishes, & positive energy for his recovery.

Thank you.

Good day fellow card enthusiasts,

The fifteenth edition of CARD CULTURE is now available to download for all 52 Plus Joker members. Take a moment to log into the club's website, and a direct link to CARD CULTURE will be in the member's section - waiting for you.

In this superb issue we hear from such notables as:

• Harry Wastrack - The Anti-Religions Playing Cards
• Tom Dawson - Indices In American Playing Cards (Pt. 7 of 12)
• Andrea Whitlock - Andrea's Decks on Deck: January
• Larry Herold - Cloisters Update
• & me - Could there be another GOLDFINGER deck?

Additionally, from CLEAR THE DECKS we unearth some history about Standard Playing Card Manufacturing Company and some history about Bernard Dondorf's company which he started in July 1872. Furthermore, the experts also verify whether a specific New York Consolidated Card Company De Luxe back appeared in other decks.

In all, one hell of an issue!



Please go download your copy today. If you're not a member of the 52 Plus Joker, think about joining us. CARD CULTURE and many other playing card amenities await you.

Enjoy!

- - - -

What exactly is CARD CULTURE? It's the ONLY digital monthly playing card magazine that works in tandem with the 52 Plus Joker printed quarterly Clear The Decks. It's for 52 Plus Joker members only, and CARD CULTURE helps you celebrate and indulge in your playing card passions! Want more info on how to join? Just ask...

For those who don't know, Cartorama (better known as Mr. Jean Darquenne) puts out a couple of beautiful catalogues annually, featuring high-end playing cards from around the world. His latest issue (CATALOGUE 59) just landed here in Canada, and it's sweet! I figured I'd share with you, if you've never seen it before.




If you look closely, you can see Randy's Bowl-a-rama deck listed in this issue. It's always nice to see old interests mélange with the new.

For more information about receiving the beautiful Cartorama catalogue, please visit their official website.

Enjoy!

Ahoj! Fellow Card Enthusiasts,

The twelfth edition of CARD CULTURE is now available to download for all 52 Plus Joker members. Take a moment to log into the club's website, and a direct link to CARD CULTURE will be in the member's section - waiting for you.


In this superb issue we hear from such notables as:

• Andrea Whitlock
• Tom Dawson
• JP Playing Cards
• Don Boyer
• Kings & Crooks
• Gambler's Warehouse
• USPC
• Kevin Reylek
• Cartorama
• Paul Carpenter
• Tom Ransom
• & me

Go grab your copy today. If you're not a member of the 52 Plus Joker, think about joining our society now. CARD CULTURE and many other playing card amenities await you.

Enjoy!

- - - -

What exactly is CARD CULTURE? It's the digital monthly playing card magazine that works in tandem with the 52 Plus Joker printed quarterly Clear The Decks. It's for 52 Plus Joker members only, and CARD CULTURE helps you celebrate and indulge in your playing card passions! Want more info on how to join? Just ask...

Local TV channel WOFL-35 Fox news is at the 52 Plus Joker Convention this morning. David Martin and Good Morning Orlando comes and celebrates with Tom & Judy Dawson, Paul Carpenter, Don Boyer, USPC, EPCC, and everyone else attending the convention.

The news will be covering the convention for about two hours (in 30 second spots). You can watch it live here.

If you miss it, there will be clips posted soon.

Enjoy!

Hyvää päivää fellow card enthusiasts,

The tenth edition of CARD CULTURE is now available to download for all 52 Plus Joker members. Take a moment to log into the club's website, and a direct link to CARD CULTURE will be in the member's section - waiting for you.


In this awesome issue we hear from such notables as:

• Tom Dawson
• Maxime Heriaud
• Tom Majski
• Daryl The Magician's Magician
• MPC
• & me

As a bonus, you'll find the first sneak peek of this year's special club deck. We think you're going to get excited when you see it!

Go grab your copy today. If you're not a member of the 52 Plus Joker, think about joining our society now. CARD CULTURE and many other playing card amenities await you.

Enjoy!

---

What exactly is CARD CULTURE? It's the digital monthly playing card magazine that works in tandem with the 52 Plus Joker printed quarterly Clear The Decks. CARD CULTURE helps you celebrate and indulge in your playing card passions!

Want more info on how to join? Just reply & ask...

Yo Yo fellow card enthusiasts,

The ninth edition of CARD CULTURE is now available to download for 52 Plus Joker members. Take a moment to log into the club's website, and a direct link to CARD CULTURE will be right there waiting for you.


In this awesome issue we hear from such notables as:

• Tom Dawson
• Maxime Heriaud
• Tom Majski
• Lawrence Sullivan / LPCC
• Rhonda Hawes
• & me

Working in tandem with our printed quarterly Clear The Decks, CARD CULTURE helps you celebrate and indulge in your playing card passions even more!

Go grab your copy today. If you're not a member of the 52 Plus Joker, think about joining our society now. CARD CULTURE and many other playing card amenities await you.

Enjoy!

With the 30th anniversary of our annual convention upon us, the buzz is starting to rise to a boil. Various private emails and threads on this discussion forum are asking questions about who's attending, speaking, and launching new decks at this year's convention. So instead of fanning the rumor fire, let me tell you who you will see at this year's 52 Plus Joker Convention.

It's a long laundry list of 'who's who' in attendance, so here are a few highlights:

Lenny Schneir - For those who don't recognize this name, he officially member #1 of the 52 Plus Joker. That's right! He started all this 30 years ago, and now he's back to see the progress we've made in his absence.

Kostya Kimlat - Known in the magic world as one of the best with a deck of cards, he's going to perform his brand of sleight of hand during one of our events, but he's also going to attend the convention as he's become a new member of our club.

Rhonda Hawes - She's going to share her vast knowledge about Art Nouveau with Art Deco playing cards during one of the speaking sessions. She's going to show some imagery that will blow your mind. Wait until you see what she has in store.

Mark Stutzman - You might recognize him as the famed artist known for his work with David Blaine, Conjuring Arts, Legends Playing Cards, and most recently the Whispering Imps. Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, please stand and up make some noise for this guy. He plans to speak at this year's convention, so arrange your travel plans now.

In addition, both Expert Playing Card Company and United States Playing Card Company will be in attendance this year. I'm sure they'll each have amazing new goodies for all to enjoy as well as fresh thoughts about the continued innovation of playing card production and manufacturing.

Registration for the convention is only $100 for three days of playing card awesomeness, and that also includes a table to sell, trade, and promote your decks in the dealer's room.  Where else can you meet legendary collectors & designers, hobnob with premier card manufactures, and talk playing cards with other enthusiasts all night long? Only at a 52 Plus Joker Playing Card convention!

Want to join us this year? The convention will be held in the Doubletree Hilton at Orlando Seaworld on October 7th, through October 10th, 2015. For more information, please visit the convention page on the 52 Plus Joker website.

We look forward to seeing you in Orlando.

Interesting Thought...

I found this lone uncancelled casino card in the grass of the school yard directly behind my home. It's from a Nevada gaming house called the Sands Regency, located in Reno.



Finding this card got me thinking about the distance it must have traveled, in order to come to rest in Toronto.

Erlanger to Reno - 2176 miles
Reno to Toronto - 2419 miles

TOTAL =  4595 miles (7395 kilometers)



*It most likely traveled in a pack, and not by itself.
**It could have made stops in between the point of production, Reno, and it's final resting place. We have no access to this kind of information.

I know people track currency, (and it's much easier to do it with bills) but it would make an insightful social experiment to do this with playing cards.

Moshimoshi fellow card enthusiasts,

The sixth edition of CARD CULTURE is now available to download for 52 Plus Joker members. Take a moment to log into the club's website, and a direct link to CARD CULTURE will be right there waiting for you.


In this awesome issue we hear from such notables as:

• Clay Boulware
• Maxime Heriaud
• Tom Majski
• Thomas Dawson
• Don Boyer
• & me

Working in tandem with our printed quarterly Clear The Decks, CARD CULTURE helps you celebrate and indulge in your playing card passions even more!

Go grab your copy today. If you're not a member of the 52 Plus Joker, think about joining our society now. CARD CULTURE and many other playing card amenities await you.

Enjoy!

Bonjour fellow card enthusiasts,

The fifth edition of CARD CULTURE is now available to download for 52 Plus Joker members. Take a moment to log into the club's website, and a direct link to CARD CULTURE will be right there waiting for you.


In this awesome issue we hear from such notables as:

• Tom Majski
• Randy Butterfield
• Don Boyer
• Mike Ratledge
• & me

Working in tandem with our printed quarterly Clear The Decks, CARD CULTURE helps you celebrate and indulge in your playing card passions even more!

Go grab your copy today. If you're not a member of the 52 Plus Joker, think about joining our society now. CARD CULTURE and many other playing card amenities await you.

Enjoy!

2014 Sorcerers Safari Magic Camp Documentary (camper's cut)


Take an inside look at what goes on at Canada's premier magic camp and find out why many of our campers return, year after year. After watching this documentary you’ll see, everyone has so much fun they just keep coming back. With many notable guests in regular attendance, this summer is your chance to join us.

This year's magic camp dates are August 15th - 19th 2015.

Disappear for a week and immerse yourself in the rich art of magic, make friends and life-long memories, all while enjoying the great outdoors. To register right now, or for more information about attending Sorcerers Safari Magic & Performance Camp, please visit our official website.