Introduction to the World of Playing Cards and Collecting

Introduction to Collecting Playing Cards

Hi guys, I decided to start this blog to help fellow playing card collectors navigate all there is to collecting, buying, trading, and selling playing cards! As I've been collecting for the last six years and more recently became serious about collecting, I've learned a lot about the ins and outs of taking up this hobby. For those who are new to collecting, let this be an introduction.

Collecting Decks as a Hobby 

So, why do people collect playing cards anyway? Well, in my case, I began collecting because I love board and card games. I've always found that these games were an easy and simple way to get an activity going with friends and family, and I always can appreciate the beautiful art work that designers come up with to make these games look fun and interesting enough to sit down and play with. As with card decks, I was really drawn to the wide variety of designs that they can appeal to whether the deck is featuring your favorite TV show or the Harry Potter franchise or even some cute dogs on the cover, you can find a deck for just about any subculture or interest you have.

Other people may collect playing cards because they were handed down a big box of old bridge playing card decks from a relative, or they love going to the Casino, or maybe they're really into magic tricks. No matter the reason, you'd be surprised to find out that there's actually a huge subculture of people who collect playing cards that you can connect with on different social media pages or websites. My two favorite places to explore other people's decks is on Reddit and Facebook.

In the subreddit r/playingcards, you can geek out about your brand new deck that came in the mail or show off your collection of vintage decks. In this subreddit, you can connect with people who would be just as excited as you are about your new decks that you just purchased or that you dug up in the attic.

On the Facebook page Playing Card Collectors Club, you can also share your love of this hobby without being intimidated by how serious some collectors are on Reddit, perhaps. The collectors on Facebook are extremely active, so you can go to them if you're looking to identify an old deck or card you have or ask to see other collector's niche card deck category. I think the biggest advantage to the Facebook page is that you can post and view multiple photos at a time, ask for recommendations, or chat in the comments with people.

The great thing about these communities is knowing that there are other people out there who can appreciate this hobby, because, as I have learned, friends and family don't always get what the big deal is about collecting these huge bricks of cards or the excitement of getting new decks in the mail.

Tips for New Collectors or Those Interested in Taking Up this Hobby...

1. Be Conscious of the Cost: First and foremost, collecting playing cards can become a very expensive hobby if you do not create a budget for yourself. Sure, some cards may only cost between $4 and $5, but you may be tempted to start buying some of the "luxury" brands. These luxury brands are beautiful decks but can cost upwards of $10 to $25 per deck, such as Theory 11, Cartimundi, Orbit, Fontaine, etc. At the start of my collection, I only bought Bicycle cards and other cheap poker decks.
2. Decide Which Cards You Want to Keep Sealed/Unsealed: The biggest rookie mistake that I made when I first began collecting was that I opened EVERY single new deck that I bought. It seems intuitive at first that you open all of your decks so you can see the cool designs of the cards, but I did not realize that some of my decks were limited edition or rare. In that case, if I ever decided to sell these cards or pass them down to someone else, the value just took a huge hit from ripping off the stamp or damaging the box. When buying new cards, decide whether you want to open the deck to play with or if you want to keep them sealed for selling it in the future. Cards that have a date on the stamp or have the word "edition" printed on it are likely only going to be printed or sold for a certain period of time. A lot of collectors buy two of every deck so that they can keep one opened for themselves and sell the sealed deck in the future. It may not be necessary to leave every single deck sealed because the valuation of these decks may not increase in price as time goes on, but it is something to keep in mind while you are first starting off. On the other hand, if you want your decks to stay fresh and avoid wear, you may consider keeping them sealed... or better yet, purchase some clear plastic cases. 
3. Buy Decks that You Like, Not Just Decks Everyone Else Collects: It becomes very tempting to go and purchase the most popular decks that everyone on social media is obsessed with, but if you're just starting off, you don't need to blow $25 to $50 on a single deck. Buy decks that have a special meaning or value to you. For example, I love collecting vintage dog cards. They may not be the coolest or trendiest cards on Reddit or Facebook, but they're a category of cards I find cute and unique. They're also not that high in demand on eBay or other selling sites, so these kinds of decks are rather cheap and very affordable for me. Another, let's say, "subcategory" of cards I love are the ones I pick up when I'm traveling. I have about 17 different decks of cards that I've snagged while on vacation at little souvenir shops, and they're all very unique. These decks are valuable to me because they remind me of that one road trip I took with my best friend to New Jersey or the family vacation I took with my family to Arizona a few years ago. Our collections are meant to be interesting to us, not just to the other collectors we want to impress sometimes. 

My Top 3 Recomendations for Starter Decks:

Bicycle:

The Bicycle cards are a great way to start, as they only cost between $3.95 and $5 (not including limited edition or out of print decks) at stores such as Barnes and Nobles, CVS, Walgreens, Target, or Walmart. They also come in many different designs and colors that can appeal to all different kinds of collectors. What I like most about Bicycle cards is that they're both durable and aesthetically pleasing on all sides when displaying them. Not only that, but if you plan on showing off your decks to your friends and family, the Bicycle cards are well-known... they may actually be able to appreciate your collection of cards they've never seen before!

Here's a link to PlayingCardsDeck.com where you can check out the Bicycle brand:
https://playingcarddecks.com/collections/bicycle-playing-cards

Cherry Casino:

Another great brand you can explore to kickstart your collection is Cherry Casino. Cherry Casino cards are wonderfully colorful and durable if you plan to play with them. This brand is not quite as cheap (between $11 and $15) as Bicycle, but they have a cute, minimalist feel that looks nice on display. There isn't as large of a selection compared to Bicycle cards, though it may be a more responsible choice to begin with as you may only purchase a few decks to start. Furthermore, you won't be overwhelmed by the huge selection of decks to choose from.

Here's a link to PlayingCardsDeck.com where you can check out the Cherry Casino brand:
https://playingcarddecks.com/pages/search-results-page?q=cherry+casino

Tally-Ho:

If you're looking for that traditional, sitting at the table with friends while playing hearts type deck, Tally-Ho is your go-to brand. Tally-Ho's can range in price from $4.99 to over $50 for limited edition decks. The great thing about this brand is that they're easy to find online, and you can work your way up to buying the more pricey limited edition decks as you become more serious about collecting. As you can see, the art work on these decks are unique and colorful -- all at a price that you can work into your budget.

Here's the link to PlayingCardDecks.com where you can check out the Tally-Ho brand:
https://playingcarddecks.com/collections/tally-ho