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{{Short description|Type of playing card}}
[[Image:7 of Diamonds - VanityFair.JPG|thumb|right|7 of Diamonds from the ''Vanity Fair'' deck. [[United States Playing Card Company]]]]
[[File:7 of Diamonds - VanityFair.JPG|thumb|right|7 of Diamonds from the ''Vanity Fair'' deck. [[United States Playing Card Company]]]]
A '''transformation playing card''' (sometimes referred to as a transformation deck when assembled into a complete set) is a type of [[playing card]] where an artist incorporates the [[pips]] of the non-[[face card]]s into an artistic design. In a classical transformation playing card, the pips retain their standard position and coloration on the card. In some variations, the pips may be different in size, location or color. There is some debate as to whether these cards, often referred to as semi-transformed, should be considered true transformation playing cards.<ref name=gamesetal>{{cite web
A '''transformation playing card''' (sometimes referred to as a '''transformation deck''' when assembled into a complete set) is a type of [[playing card]] where an artist incorporates the [[Pip (counting)|pips]] of the non-[[face card]]s into an artistic design. In a classical transformation playing card, the pips retain their standard position and coloration on the card. In some variations, the pips may be different in size, location or color. There is some debate as to whether these cards, often referred to as semi-transformed, should be considered true transformation playing cards.<ref name=gamesetal>{{cite web| title =Transformation Playing Cards - what are they?| publisher =Games et al.| url =http://www.gamesetal.net/transformation-cards/html/transformations.html| access-date =2007-06-25| url-status =dead| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20070930163303/http://www.gamesetal.net/transformation-cards/html/transformations.html| archive-date =2007-09-30}}</ref>
| last =
| first =
| authorlink =
| coauthors =
| title = Transformation Playing Cards - what are they?
| work =
| publisher = Games et al.
| date =
| url = http://www.gamesetal.net/transformation-cards/html/transformations.html
| format =
| doi =
| accessdate = 2007-06-25}}</ref>


==History==
==History==
[[Image:7 of hearts - metastasis.JPG|thumb|left|150px|7 of Hearts from ''Metastasis'']]
[[File:7 of hearts - metastasis.JPG|thumb|left|upright|7 of Hearts from ''Metastasis'']]
By the 19th century, the standard form for playing cards had become fixed in most of Europe and America. French cards used hearts, diamonds, spades and clubs. German cards used acorns, leaves, hearts and bells. It was at this time that designers in Germany, France and England began to draw small figures around the pips.<ref>{{Citation | last = Bauwens | first = Jan | author-link = | last2 = | first2 = | author2-link = | title = Comic Carten | date = | year = | url = | accessdate = }}</ref>
By the 19th century, the standard form for playing cards had become fixed in most of Europe and America. French cards used hearts, diamonds, spades and clubs. German cards used acorns, leaves, hearts and bells. It was at this time that designers in Germany, France and England began to draw small figures around the pips.<ref>{{Cite journal | last = Bauwens | first = Jan | title = Comic Carten }}</ref>


The first transformation playing cards were created by D.W. Soltan and D. Berger in 1801 as illustrations for a German edition of [[Hudibras]]. The cards illustrated were the 2 of hearts, 3 of hearts, 5 of hearts and 8 of hearts.<ref>{{cite book | last = Field | first = Albert | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Transformation Playing Cards | publisher = U.S. Games Systems, Inc. | date = 1987 | location = | pages = 6–7 | url = | doi = | isbn = 0-88079-033-4 }}</ref> In 1803, John Nixon published the first complete set (52 cards) of transformed cards. Titled ''Metastasis'', this collection was also published as illustrations on sheets of paper.<ref>{{cite book | last = Field | first = Albert | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Transformation Playing Cards | publisher = U.S. Games Systems, Inc. | date = 1987 | location = | pages = 12–14 | url = | doi = | isbn = 0-88079-033-4 }}</ref> In 1804, J.C. Cotta, a publisher and bookseller in [[Tübingen]], Germany, produced the first set of transformation cards that was published as an actual deck of playing cards. These decks were published as almanacs, in which, each of the 52 cards corresponded to one of the 52 weeks of the year.<ref>{{cite book | last = Field | first = Albert | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Transformation Playing Cards | publisher = U.S. Games Systems, Inc. | date = 1987 | location = | pages = 16–18 | url = | doi = | isbn = 0-88079-033-4 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web
The first transformation playing cards were created by D.W. Soltan and D. Berger in 1801 as illustrations for a German edition of [[Hudibras]]. The cards illustrated were the 2 of hearts, 3 of hearts, 5 of hearts and 8 of hearts.<ref>{{cite book | last = Field | first = Albert | title = Transformation Playing Cards | publisher = U.S. Games Systems, Inc. | date = 1987 | pages = 6–7 | isbn = 0-88079-033-4 }}</ref> In 1803, John Nixon published the first complete set (52 cards) of transformed cards. Titled ''Metastasis'', this collection was also published as illustrations on sheets of paper.<ref>{{cite book | last = Field | first = Albert | title = Transformation Playing Cards | publisher = U.S. Games Systems, Inc. | date = 1987 | pages = 12–14 | isbn = 0-88079-033-4 }}</ref> In 1804, J.C. Cotta, a publisher and bookseller in [[Tübingen]], Germany, produced the first set of transformation cards that was published as an actual deck of playing cards. These decks were published as almanacs, in which each of the 52 cards corresponded to one of the 52 weeks of the year.<ref>{{cite book | last = Field | first = Albert | title = Transformation Playing Cards | publisher = U.S. Games Systems, Inc. | date = 1987 | pages = 16–18 | isbn = 0-88079-033-4 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web
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| title = Transforming Playing Cards
| title = Transforming Playing Cards
| work =
| publisher = The Marine Stewardship Counsel
| publisher = The Marine Stewardship Counsel
| date =
| url = http://www.msc.org/html/content_1056.htm
| url = http://www.msc.org/html/content_1056.htm
| access-date = 2007-06-25 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070125143445/http://www.msc.org/html/content_1056.htm |archive-date = January 25, 2007}}</ref>
| format =
| doi =
| accessdate = 2007-06-25}}</ref>


In 1865, Dean and Son published a deck in which the pips are changed in both size and location, being placed at the artist's whim. Collectors debate as to whether or not this deck should be considered a transformation deck, due to these differences.<ref>{{cite book | last = Field | first = Albert | title = Transformation Playing Cards | publisher = U.S. Games Systems, Inc. | date = 1987 | pages = 113–115 | isbn = 0-88079-033-4 }}</ref> The Dean and Son deck remained the only deck to manipulate the pips until the 1970s, when the practice gained some popularity.<ref>{{cite book | last = Field | first = Albert | title = Transformation Playing Cards | publisher = U.S. Games Systems, Inc. | date = 1987 | pages = 199 | isbn = 0-88079-033-4 }}</ref> Today, cards that do not strictly adhere to standard pip placement, size and color are referred to as semi-transformation playing cards.
Transformed cards became particularly popular in Victorian England. Their influence can be seen in [[John Tenniel]]'s illustrations for [[Through the Looking-Glass]]. Noted novelist and gambler [[William Makepeace Thackeray]] designed 21 cards himself.<ref>{{cite book | last = Dawe | first = Nicholas | authorlink = | coauthors = Meeuwissen, Tony | title = The Key to the Kingdom | publisher = Running Press | date = 1992 | location = | pages = 5–7 | url = | doi = | isbn = 1-56138-072-5}}</ref>


An article entitled "Playing Card Squiggles." was published in the December 1910 issue of ''[[Strand Magazine]]''. Several ''Cotta'' cards were pictured, erroneously attributed to an unnamed French artist. ''Strand'' subsequently asked its readers to submit their own designs for card squiggles, which the magazine periodically published. [[John Butler Yeats]] was one of the first to contribute a card design to the magazine. The feature remained popular for some time.<ref name=gamesetal/><ref>{{cite book | last = Field | first = Albert | title = Transformation Playing Cards | publisher = U.S. Games Systems, Inc. | date = 1987 | pages = 187–191 | isbn = 0-88079-033-4 }}</ref>
[[Image:4 of clubs - dean and son.JPG|thumb|right|An example of a semi-transformed playing card, 4 of Clubs from Dean and Son]]
In 1865 Dean and Son published a deck in which the pips have been changed in both size and location, being placed at the artist's whim. Collectors debate as to whether or not this deck should be considered a transformation deck, due to these differences.<ref>{{cite book | last = Field | first = Albert | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Transformation Playing Cards | publisher = U.S. Games Systems, Inc. | date = 1987 | location = | pages = 113–115 | url = | doi = | isbn = 0-88079-033-4 }}</ref> The Dean and Son deck remained the only deck to manipuate the pips until the 1970s, when the practice gained some popularity.<ref>{{cite book | last = Field | first = Albert | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Transformation Playing Cards | publisher = U.S. Games Systems, Inc. | date = 1987 | location = | pages = 199 | url = | doi = | isbn = 0-88079-033-4 }}</ref> Today, cards that do not strictly adhere to standard pip placement, size and color are referred to as semi-transformation playing cards.


Some{{who?|date=October 2019}} have estimated that around 70 different transformation decks were created throughout the entire nineteenth century, which by modern standards is a relatively small number. This period of time also witnessed progression with this art-form. By the late 19th century more colourful and creative transformation decks by Vanity Fair and Harlequin appeared, which showed pips incorporated into artwork that depicted people dining, skating, playing tennis and riding bicycles.
An article entitled "Playing Card Squiggles." was published in the December 1910 issue of ''[[Strand Magazine]]''. Several ''Cotta'' cards were pictured, erroneously attributed to an unnamed French artist. ''Strand'' subsequently asked its readers to submit their own designs for card squiggles, which the magazine periodically published. [[John Butler Yeats]] was one of the first to contribute a card design to the magazine. The feature remained popular for some time.<ref name=gamesetal/><ref>{{cite book | last = Field | first = Albert | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Transformation Playing Cards | publisher = U.S. Games Systems, Inc. | date = 1987 | location = | pages = 187–191 | url = | doi = | isbn = 0-88079-033-4 }}</ref>

[[Image:3 of Clubs - Key to the Kingdom.JPG|thumb|left|150px|''[[Three Blind Mice]]'' as portrayed on the 3 of Clubs from ''The Key to the Kingdom'']]


==Contemporary designs==
==Contemporary designs==
Though not as popular as they were in the 19th century, transformation playing cards continue to be produced. Some, like ''Art for the Earth'' by The [[Friends of the Earth]] and ''Under the Sea'' by the Marine Stewardship Counsel, are created for charity purposes, with different artists contributing art for each card.
Transformation playing cards like ''Art for the Earth'' by [[Friends of the Earth]] and ''Under the Sea'' by the Marine Stewardship Counsel, are created for charity purposes, with different artists contributing art for each card. Similarly, other collective projects like ''Ultimate Deck'' from Dan & Dave and Stranger & Stranger or the series from Black Rock Collective brings multiple artists together to create semi-transformation decks.


[[File:3 of Clubs - Key to the Kingdom.JPG|thumb|upright|''[[Three Blind Mice]]'' as portrayed on the 3 of Clubs from ''The Key to the Kingdom'']]
One of the more notable contemporary sets is the award winning ''The Key to the Kingdom,'' a semi-transformation deck commissioned by London's [[V&A Museum of Childhood]] and created by Tony Meeuwissen. It won the [[WH Smith Literary Award]] for best illustration and The Designers and Art Directory Association of London gold award.<ref>{{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Tony Shows His Tricks | work = | publisher = South Wales Argus | date = | url = http://archive.southwalesargus.co.uk/2002/10/24/70236.html | format = | doi = | accessdate = 2007-07-02}}</ref> This set of cards was created around the theme of [[nursery rhyme]]s and [[poem]]s. The cards were sold with a book containing each poem and a picture of the corresponding card on the opposite page. Additionally, the deck was constructed as a [[puzzle contest]] laid out in the form of an original poem. The poem gave clues to pick certain cards, which then could be decrypted into a secret message. The prize of $10,000 and a golden key was won by Susan Kavanagh of Essex.<ref>{{cite web
One of the more notable contemporary sets is the award-winning ''The Key to the Kingdom,'' a semi-transformation deck commissioned by London's [[V&A Museum of Childhood]] and created by Tony Meeuwissen. It won the [[WH Smith Literary Award]] for best illustration and The Designers and Art Directory Association of London gold award.<ref>{{cite news | title = Tony Shows His Tricks | newspaper = South Wales Argus | url = http://archive.southwalesargus.co.uk/2002/10/24/70236.html | access-date = 2007-07-02 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100209013418/http://archive.southwalesargus.co.uk/2002/10/24/70236.html | archive-date = 2010-02-09 }}</ref> This set of cards was created around the theme of [[nursery rhyme]]s and [[poem]]s. The cards were sold with a book containing each poem and a picture of the corresponding card on the opposite page. Additionally, the deck was constructed as a [[puzzle contest]] laid out in the form of an original poem. The poem gave clues to pick certain cards, which then could be decrypted into a secret message. The prize of $10,000 and a golden key was won by Susan Kavanagh of Essex.<ref>{{cite web | title = The Key to the Kingdom - Solution | publisher = The Armchair Treasure Hunt Club | access-date = 2007-07-18 | url = http://www.treasureclub.net/publichunts/keytothekingdom/index.html}}</ref>
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With the advent of [[Kickstarter]] and other crowdfunded websites, individual artists are more easily able to bring transformation and semi-transformation decks to the public.<ref>[https://www.boardgamegeek.com/thread/2350745 "High quality reproductions of classic 19th century transformation decks"]. 18 January 2020. Retrieved 31 January 2020.</ref>
| authorlink =
| coauthors =
| title = The Key to the Kingdom - Solution
| work =
| publisher =The Armchair Treasure Hunt Club
| date =
| url =http://www.treasureclub.net/publichunts/keytothekingdom/index.html
| format =
| doi =
| accessdate = 2007-07-18}}</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
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==External links==
==External links==
*[http://www.cs.man.ac.uk/~daf/i-p-c-s.org/faq/transformation.php The International Playing Card Society] - Gallery of various transformations of the four of diamonds.
*[http://www.cs.man.ac.uk/~daf/i-p-c-s.org/faq/transformation.php The International Playing Card Society] - Gallery of various transformations of the four of diamonds.
{{Playing cards}}
*[http://www.folioboutique.com/tonymeeuwissen Folio Boutique - Tony Meeuwissen] - Gallery of cards from Tony Meeuwissen's transformation deck, The Key of the Kingdom.

[[Category:Playing cards]]
[[Category:Playing cards]]
[[Category:History of card decks]]
[[Category:Graphic design]]
[[Category:Graphic design]]
{{good article}}

Latest revision as of 03:01, 24 April 2024

7 of Diamonds from the Vanity Fair deck. United States Playing Card Company

A transformation playing card (sometimes referred to as a transformation deck when assembled into a complete set) is a type of playing card where an artist incorporates the pips of the non-face cards into an artistic design. In a classical transformation playing card, the pips retain their standard position and coloration on the card. In some variations, the pips may be different in size, location or color. There is some debate as to whether these cards, often referred to as semi-transformed, should be considered true transformation playing cards.[1]

History[edit]

7 of Hearts from Metastasis

By the 19th century, the standard form for playing cards had become fixed in most of Europe and America. French cards used hearts, diamonds, spades and clubs. German cards used acorns, leaves, hearts and bells. It was at this time that designers in Germany, France and England began to draw small figures around the pips.[2]

The first transformation playing cards were created by D.W. Soltan and D. Berger in 1801 as illustrations for a German edition of Hudibras. The cards illustrated were the 2 of hearts, 3 of hearts, 5 of hearts and 8 of hearts.[3] In 1803, John Nixon published the first complete set (52 cards) of transformed cards. Titled Metastasis, this collection was also published as illustrations on sheets of paper.[4] In 1804, J.C. Cotta, a publisher and bookseller in Tübingen, Germany, produced the first set of transformation cards that was published as an actual deck of playing cards. These decks were published as almanacs, in which each of the 52 cards corresponded to one of the 52 weeks of the year.[5][6]

In 1865, Dean and Son published a deck in which the pips are changed in both size and location, being placed at the artist's whim. Collectors debate as to whether or not this deck should be considered a transformation deck, due to these differences.[7] The Dean and Son deck remained the only deck to manipulate the pips until the 1970s, when the practice gained some popularity.[8] Today, cards that do not strictly adhere to standard pip placement, size and color are referred to as semi-transformation playing cards.

An article entitled "Playing Card Squiggles." was published in the December 1910 issue of Strand Magazine. Several Cotta cards were pictured, erroneously attributed to an unnamed French artist. Strand subsequently asked its readers to submit their own designs for card squiggles, which the magazine periodically published. John Butler Yeats was one of the first to contribute a card design to the magazine. The feature remained popular for some time.[1][9]

Some[who?] have estimated that around 70 different transformation decks were created throughout the entire nineteenth century, which by modern standards is a relatively small number. This period of time also witnessed progression with this art-form. By the late 19th century more colourful and creative transformation decks by Vanity Fair and Harlequin appeared, which showed pips incorporated into artwork that depicted people dining, skating, playing tennis and riding bicycles.

Contemporary designs[edit]

Transformation playing cards like Art for the Earth by Friends of the Earth and Under the Sea by the Marine Stewardship Counsel, are created for charity purposes, with different artists contributing art for each card. Similarly, other collective projects like Ultimate Deck from Dan & Dave and Stranger & Stranger or the series from Black Rock Collective brings multiple artists together to create semi-transformation decks.

Three Blind Mice as portrayed on the 3 of Clubs from The Key to the Kingdom

One of the more notable contemporary sets is the award-winning The Key to the Kingdom, a semi-transformation deck commissioned by London's V&A Museum of Childhood and created by Tony Meeuwissen. It won the WH Smith Literary Award for best illustration and The Designers and Art Directory Association of London gold award.[10] This set of cards was created around the theme of nursery rhymes and poems. The cards were sold with a book containing each poem and a picture of the corresponding card on the opposite page. Additionally, the deck was constructed as a puzzle contest laid out in the form of an original poem. The poem gave clues to pick certain cards, which then could be decrypted into a secret message. The prize of $10,000 and a golden key was won by Susan Kavanagh of Essex.[11]

With the advent of Kickstarter and other crowdfunded websites, individual artists are more easily able to bring transformation and semi-transformation decks to the public.[12]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Transformation Playing Cards - what are they?". Games et al. Archived from the original on 2007-09-30. Retrieved 2007-06-25.
  2. ^ Bauwens, Jan. "Comic Carten". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  3. ^ Field, Albert (1987). Transformation Playing Cards. U.S. Games Systems, Inc. pp. 6–7. ISBN 0-88079-033-4.
  4. ^ Field, Albert (1987). Transformation Playing Cards. U.S. Games Systems, Inc. pp. 12–14. ISBN 0-88079-033-4.
  5. ^ Field, Albert (1987). Transformation Playing Cards. U.S. Games Systems, Inc. pp. 16–18. ISBN 0-88079-033-4.
  6. ^ "Transforming Playing Cards". The Marine Stewardship Counsel. Archived from the original on January 25, 2007. Retrieved 2007-06-25.
  7. ^ Field, Albert (1987). Transformation Playing Cards. U.S. Games Systems, Inc. pp. 113–115. ISBN 0-88079-033-4.
  8. ^ Field, Albert (1987). Transformation Playing Cards. U.S. Games Systems, Inc. p. 199. ISBN 0-88079-033-4.
  9. ^ Field, Albert (1987). Transformation Playing Cards. U.S. Games Systems, Inc. pp. 187–191. ISBN 0-88079-033-4.
  10. ^ "Tony Shows His Tricks". South Wales Argus. Archived from the original on 2010-02-09. Retrieved 2007-07-02.
  11. ^ "The Key to the Kingdom - Solution". The Armchair Treasure Hunt Club. Retrieved 2007-07-18.
  12. ^ "High quality reproductions of classic 19th century transformation decks". 18 January 2020. Retrieved 31 January 2020.

External links[edit]