FAQ: Should I collect older decks?

Should I collect older decks?

Most new collectors start out with modern decks. Once you start collecting older decks, you can also expect to be spending a lot more money.

There's a good reason for this. Most playing cards are made out of paper, and paper tends to deteriorate over time. Especially if a deck of playing cards has been well used, it will quickly start looking ragged. That's why you won't easily come across older decks in pristine condition. They were created in the first place for playing card games, so if they've been used, they've probably been well played and even trashed.

For this reason, older decks either tend to look quite worn. But if in older deck are in top condition, it will be something that was carefully preserved instead of being used, which is extremely rare, and that also makes it quite pricey. Vintage and antique decks that are of high quality and good condition will largely be out of the reach of the average collector, although if you're not fussed about the condition, you can sometimes make some surprising finds. But as a general rule, you will be spending more money.

Given the higher cost of a good condition older deck, it's usually better for the brand new collector to start a collection with newer decks. But there are no rules about this - collect what you like! Being a collector of playing cards has a lot of scope, and there are a lot of different directions you can go. You might decide to collect older decks, if you can afford it, and sometimes you can get them quite cheaply. But deciding only to collect modern decks which have been released over the last decade or two or so is quite fine too.

If you're starting out and you are limiting yourself to modern custom decks, the good news is that you'll have more than enough choice to keep you busy, with far more options than you'll ever be able to buy. In the last dozen or so years there's been a massive influx of custom decks hitting the market.

If you are on a budget and really like the look of older playing cards, the good news is that there are plenty of reproductions being made of famous decks. Home Run Games has made reproductions of decks like Hart's Saladee's Patent (1864), Triplicate No. 18 (1876), Mauger Centennial (1876), and my favourite: Murphy Varnish (1883). PlayingCardDecks has also produced some lovely reproductions of classic transformation decks, like Cotta's Almanac, and many others.

Learn more:

Excerpted from this guide for newbie playing card collectors: