Introduction to collecting Playing Cards.

Swap cards are mostly from a deck of normal playing cards. Collectors take one of each design or pattern from the deck for their collection. Usually there are a pair, but sometimes there may be four decks in a box, with different colours or pictures in each deck. Sometimes there is no 'pair' for a card, if just one pack was produced by the manufacturer, using the same pattern for the entire deck of cards. (Swap cards were also produced by Coles and Woolworths in the 1950's. These are now rare, and highly valued among collectors.)

A matching pair of cards can be the same design with variations in colour, or different pictures with the same kind of border to show they are a pair. There may even be four varieties of the one pattern in different colours. The subjects on the front of cards are endless. Some collectors only save a certain topic, such as animals, or just one kind of animal. Old fashioned or vintage-style pictures such as crinoline ladies and Old Masters paintings are popular. Other collectors specialise in Jokers or Aces.

In 1956, Coles Stores produced four separate sets of cards to commemorate the Olympic Games in Melbourne. There are 28 cards in each set, with flags of the competing nations, flora, fauna, industry, and sporting events pictured on them.

Saturday 11 August 2007

Cat Swap Cards - just for Meow!




2 comments:

Meow (aka Connie) said...

Hi Gina, naughty me, I've never looked at this blog before !! Thank you for posting your kitty cards, dedicating them to ME !! You are too sweet. They are gorgeous. I have quite a few Kitty cards, too ... must scan them all in and share them ... you might like some of them !!
Take care, Connie xx

Miss Frugal said...

Hi there i'm so glad to find someone who has kept all their swap cards. I don't have thousands but have quite a few and in covers as well. They were my prized possessions and the envy of all my little school friends. I was also very particular about the ones i swapped it had to be for something really really good and i must admit till this day i still really admire my collection. Well done.