THE DECK OF THE MONTH

DECKS with a FRAGRANCE
22 special designed decks from the world of fashion. Last update: 1/3/2021

The FRENCH & The SEA
A pirate's treasure & mystery deck and 12 other French sea-related decks.  Last update: 1/10/2013

ODD SHAPES
Examples from 28 decks in sometimes amazing shapes.

PIN-UP's & EROTICA
An xpo where we show the decks from our collection of pin-up and erotica decks and in the "Archives" we show 150 decks from the previous Pin-Up & Erotica xpo.
Last update: 30/1/2016. Total decks on xpo: 275.

WAR on CARDS
Only a few decks were made around WW1 and WW2, but the 2nd Gulf war brought a "shock & awe" offensive in the card field too. Examples from 23 decks.

The OLD SCHOOL
A section, where we show only 19th century decks. Last update: 1/11/2010. Total decks on xpo: 15.

ART & CARDS
A present total of 56 decks by artists, known and unknown. Last update: 1/1/2024

 OR ANOTHER ONE......

"Small cards, great stories"
Gejus van Diggele shows and explains different interesting examples of the secondary use of playing cards. And indeed......GREAT stories!
Last Update: 8/5/2020. Total examples: 40.

Hans Christian Andersen, 1805 - 2005
We participate in the celebration of the 200th anniversary of this great writer by showing 2 special HCA decks, that were published in 1955, and telling his own tale.

SN
In January 2005 I had put a complete xpo about the Speelkaartenfabriek Nederland on a CD-r. The link here gave access to a limited number of pages. Since 1/10/2023 the complete xpo is available, but will be updated gradually in the coming year.

A Historic Document
A complete translation of the "EDIT DU ROY" of Louis XIV from 1701. By this edict a tax of 18 deniers on each deck of playing cards was established in France.

The International pattern & its Anomalies
We show here decks from our collection that are based on modifications and adaptations of the international or Anglo-American pattern.
Last update: 1/1/2011. Total number of decks on xpo: 93

AND..... ANOTHER ONE

YULETIDE on ICELAND
Two expositions: the first is about the Yule festival and the second about playing cards on Iceland.
Illustrated by 21 Icelandic decks. Last update: 12/2016

HANAFUDA
Hanafuda is a Japanese gambling game, played with a deck of 48 cards. Can we play poker with such decks too? 5 decks on xpo to answer that question.

VARIATIONS
A section with different variations of the same deck. Hosts 10 articles with a total of 32 decks.
Last update:  1/2/2015

CHILDREN for CHILDREN
A short article about 5 decks, each showing children on the courts. 

UNDER YOUR SKIN
Three strange decks that will get under your skin ..... literally!

LITERATURE & CARDS
Here we'll show the decks from our collection, that are dedicated to a certain author or literary work.
Last update: 20/5/2007 

PARIS WORLD EXPOSITION 1900
After a visit to Paris and a rare find there, we decided to share this deck with you and place Paris in a historical perspective at the same time.

OR.....

ONE OF THESE!

A WADDINGTON SURPRISE
A surprising, non-standard, Waddington deck and two other Waddington decks that are also not depicted in the outstanding books by John Berry about the Waddington Collection.

"OLD-FASHIONED" CARDS
An xpo with 3 decks from the 1950's and all three can be called old-fashioned in more than one way.

COLLECTING PLAYING CARDS IN CHINA
A short article by Tao Liu, a long time Chinese collector, about playing cards and their collectors in China. Illustrated with cards from 3 vintage Chinese decks.

A SCENIC TOUR OF AMSTERDAM ON ACES
Take a trip through time and space within the center of Amsterdam. See the 24 sites that have attracted foreign visitors from the 19th and 20th century .......and still do!

ANOTHER MYSTERY SOLVED
For a long time this deck was known here among collectors as "Victoria Bron" and was believed to have been made in Germany, until Dutch collector Lex Rijnen came up with all the details about this deck.

BARBIE'S  50th  BIRTHDAY
She made her debut on March 9, 1959 and together with her friends she was the playmate of many young teenagers. So exactly 50 years later we like to tell you her story, illustrated by 6 decks. 

DOPEY DECKS
In this xpo we'll focus on decks that are related to the use of drugs. There are pro and contra decks and we've found both of them in our collection. Illustrated by 11 decks.

PLAYING CARDS ON PARADE
Carnival is celebrated around the world. We searched our collection to see if we could join the festivities. Illustrated with cards from 9 decks, but we're inviting you to help.

A TALE TO .......TELL
The standard pattern of William Tell is used in Middle European countries. Characteristics, variations and anomalies are illustrated by 5 decks. 

THE CEDOK - INTERHOTEL DECKS
A sentimental journey to Prague, in the days that the Czech Republic was still part of Czechoslovakia and transportation and hotels were managed by the state ministries. Illustrated by 5 decks. Final update: 11/8/2013

DUTCH SCENIC ACES
A historic survey on how the Dutch got to appreciate scenic aces, illustrated by 63 sets of aces and their patterns. We've improved and extended the article for the IPCS convention of 2008 and it's now available to all.

A short article, in which we show 10 decks to illustrate part of the Afro-American history.

From April 2 to June 2, 2020 I have posted a different deck each day in the "Kings, Queens, Jacks of all Times" group on Facebook....... The LOCKDOWN Series, 65 decks on xpo.

On December 15, 2020 a 2nd LOCKDOWN Series started in the same Facebook group as before. The lockdown lasted until April 28, 2021 and ended with posting 132 decks. Now here on xpo.