"canasta"( modanio)

"Canasta" ( modanio ), 162 c. ( 54 cards x 3 )
This curious variation of the international pattern is made for only one thing in mind, that is, the playing of the game of Canasta.
As some of my readers will know, in canasta,  only the colour of the suit  counts ( that is, there is no distinction made between hearts & diamonds nor spades or clubs) . Therefore, the ingenious italians have made a special deck expressedly for this game, with red or black dots replacing the suits.

As in Italy, the game of canasta is played with 3 decks of cards, this "pattern" comes only in 162 card sets, with 3 copies of each card.

Note that the courts used in each "suit"  are identical. 



"Junior playing cards" ( 'ace')

"Junior playing cards" , by "ace" - International pattern, 54c.

The following children's deck is printed on an astonishingly flimsy stock ( more the consistency of cellopahne than cardboard) , which is almost seetrough. Nevertheless, it's small size ( 3.5 x 2.5 cm) and how the maker has faithfully reproduced almost every detail of it's larger cousin, lends the deck some charm,

"Doppelkopf" ( piatnik )

"Doppelkopf" , saxon pattern , Piatnik , 24c.
[ The ace of acorns on the deck bears the legend " Sehr feine schwerdter deutsche"- "extra fine sword-german ", a refrence to the swords found on the single faced version's ace of acorns]
The following deck is the 24-card version of a saxon pattern ( which normaly comes in 32 card decks), for playing the game of doppelkopf (but the game in question actualy needs 2 such decks of cards shuffled together- go figure)
For another version of the deck, see : http://anthonylesq.blogspot.com/2011/10/saxony-pattern-cards-single-vs-double.html
Note the ace of hearts . In the middle of the card, there is a blank circle. I suspect this was where the tax stamp was supposed to go.

LONG LIVE THE FREE INTERNET.

ATTENTION;

No posts will be made on this site till the 20th of january 2011

to protest the SOPA and PIPA.

*

It is feared that the acts in question will greatly comprimise

the freedom of the internet, a freedom too

valueble to lose.

The acts , if passed, will force countless valuable sites, even those outside the USA, 

to be

shut down

if they are judged to have any content that is infringing copyright.

The act may be of use when a foregin website is streaming Hollywood movies,

but it is most undersireable of a great and important site,

like google, Wikipedia, or Yahoo,

to be shut down for a crime so trivial

as linking to a site that is judged to have been 

"infringing copyright."

*

is this all worth it?

I stand in solidarity to all y fellow websites that are arranging blackouts today.

LONG LIVE THE FREE INTERNET!

franconian pattern, ASS

Franconian pattern, ASS
The following pack is related to the Prague pattern and the barvarian pattern. Note the similarity of the Ober of leaves to the same card in the Salzburg pattern,

see also:

http://anthonylesq.blogspot.com/2012/01/jednohave-prague-pattern-piatnik.html

http://anthonylesq.blogspot.com/2011/11/schafkopf-bavarian-pattern-playing.html

http://anthonylesq.blogspot.com/2011/10/salzburger-bild-einfachdutche.html

"Jednohlavé" ( prague pattern) Piatnik

"Jednohlavé" (prague pattern) by Piatnik , 32c.
this deck is the "prague" or "bohemian" pattern. In my opinion , this deck is one of the most charming of the german suited decks. 
Note the rather crudely drawn lion on the ace of acorns ( 1st pic, 4th from left)
This deck is similar to to the franconian pattern,
(http://anthonylesq.blogspot.com/2012/01/franconian-pattern-ass.html)
and bears similarities to the Salzburg pattern
( http://anthonylesq.blogspot.com/2011/10/salzburger-bild-einfachdutche.html)
EDIT; As pointed out by Marnen,  Jednohlavé means "Single headed". 

"Piquet" (swiss french pattern ). Müller

 "Piquet" (swiss french pattern ), Müller, 36c.
this deck is of the swiss-french ( or french swiss) pattern .it is essentially a swiss version of the playing cards used in paris. The cards are used in the french-speaking parts of the country.
The name "piquet"is very curious. The game of Piquet as we know it today is played with 32 cards, but this deck has 36 cards. the only explaiation for  this is that the swiss were refering to a very ancient version of the game, played with 36 cards.

compare this deck with a parisian deck :

 http://anthonylesq.blogspot.com/2011/10/paris-pattern-grimaud.html

See also: http://anthonylesq.blogspot.com/2011/12/swiss-playing-cards-jass-muller.html 

D'Israeli on gaming

In 1791, Issac D'Israeli ( father to Benjamin Disraeli, the prime minister) published a book called "curiosities of literature". This book proved so popular ( it was a kind of Misclaney ) that he added two more volumes, and later wrote a further three volumes in a "new series"

In the first volume of series 1, D'Israeli wrote a little section on "Gaming".
In it he informs us that.....

Evidently, addiction to gambling is as strong as in 1791 as it is today.

And I wish a happy new year to all my Dear readers.