Playing cards are believed to have their origins as far back as China 1000AD.
Modern European decks have a four suit format with a royal court representing the top cards.
Bob Lancaster has scoured antique shops, jumble sales and High Street stores to find sets with unusual jacks, queens and kings.
He has built a web site, The Bob Lancaster Gallery of Unusual Playing Cards, to display images from more than 300 decks from his collection.
The site includes cards with cartoon characters, Biblical figures, dogs, aliens, politicians and literary characters replacing the traditional royal portraits.
members.aol.com/rslancastr/blgupc/blgupc.htm
Other web sites for the playing card and card game enthusiast include:
Card games from around the world.
www.pagat.com
Card tricks.
web.superb.net/cardtric
International Playing Card Society.
www.pagat.com/ipcs/
The world of playing cards
www.epcs.mcmail.com/
Accessories for playing cards.
www.mystery-games.com/ card.html
Guide to Tarot cards.
www.mystery-games.com/ card.html
Bridge lessons for beginners.
www.bridgeworld.com/begin.html
Poker guide.
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