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.

Monday 18 May 2009

Old Fashioned Ladies cards, second round.





4 comments:

crazyhaberdasher said...

It is fantastic to see these cards - of course love them all.... and another thing is I can see the pairs and other cards that I am missing!
I bought two Coles cards today at Yarragon for $5.00 each.

Query said...

I love them. It takes me back to a happier place to see all the familiar colours and pictures.

Ali said...

I love these cards and i like cards designing and use lovely colors.
plastic cards
plastic business cards

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