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 24 October 2011

More cards coming soon!

If anyone is still looking at this blog, I do apologise for letting it slip so long. I have another thousand cards to post here, it is just a matter of time! I hadn't bought any cards for a few years, but I now have two new sources, and have added a few to my collection. I've also re-arranged the collection, with my Coles cards in a separate album from everything else, so I may just delete everything on here, and re-photograph them all in their new categories. But don't hold your breath..it will be a big job.
If you are reading this blog, and wish me to continue posting photos of my collection, I would appreciate it if you would leave a comment to let me know. If I don't get any feedback, I will assume nobody reads it, and will delete the blog.