DECK OF THE MONTH

Just like the "Joker of the Month" in the Jokers section we will select a "Deck of the Month" from all the decks that we could add to our collection during that month. It will be what we consider our best find. We've started this section in April 2007 and without any doubt we can say here that over the years there will be antique, vintage and modern decks shown on these pages. Age, design and value of the chosen decks may be very different each time.

I've kept this cheerful chap here to remind me of my own stupidity. I had already chosen the deck, made the scans, created the single images and had started with writing some of the text when by chance I found that the deck had already been presented here. So panic struck on the last day of July. A fast decision was needed and I came up with this exotic lady and the deck she represents.
As I had already added some text and images to the chap's deck, I've added those at the bottom of the original article. Click his picture to go back to September 2015.

In the early 1950's the Speelkaartenfabriek Nederland (SN) had already printed millions of collectable cards, some also with actors and actresses. However, never with suits and indices. This deck is the first playing cards deck, that was published in the same way as the other collectable cards: one by one as a complimentary gift with an article from the publishing company.
The Maple Leaf company was the first to publish this playing cards deck in 1955 by giving away one card with each pack of their chewing gum. As they were collectable cards and swapping was needed to get a complete deck, they never had a box or a title. During the following years other playing cards decks were published by Maple Leaf in the same way. The makers of the "From NSF to SN" catalogue had to come up with names in 1986 and this deck here was baptized "Film Actresses", because the cards only show women.
For the younger collectors maybe only a few names will ring a bell, but even for the older collectors most of these ladies have never really made it and were only recognized for a short time. And it makes me wonder who decided which actresses would be on the courts and aces. Maybe they weren't as famous then, but names like Sophia Loren, Brigitte Bardot, Kim Novak, Gina Lollobrigida and Audrey Hepburn were banned to the pip cards. Jayne Mansfield even twice.

Although for the portraits the same colouring technique was used as in the "Movie Stars" deck, I really miss the soft coloured backgrounds which make that deck so incredibly attractive. But... it is what it is.

Because the pip cards are named portraits too, I show them at 150% for reading comfort. Click the ace to see the pips of that suit.

Gudula Blau	Gianna Maria Canale	Sonja Ziemann	Karin Dor


Dora Doll	Rosita Quintana	Rossana Podestà


Annie Cordy	Lotte Koch	Judy Holliday


Senta Wengraf	Rita Moreno	Renate Ewert


Maureen Swanson	Nora Hagist	Vera Tschechowa