1803 A range of Transformation proofs from the John Nixon Scrapbook covering published packs from 1803 to 1820

This is a unique collection of 24 proof cards on 20 sheets designed by John Nixon a caricaturist who worked closely with Fores and other London publishers. These cards represent first stage prints proofs and hand colored final proofs many with handwritten inscriptions. They represent a look into the design and thoughts of the artist and are the cornerstone for the history of the English Transformation cards. Please view the photos, which are fully notated, as they are very rare glimpse into the past.

Insured Postage is included in the price

£9,000.00

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1808 The KISS - rare early heart suit transformation playing cards.

Issued in a book, Leipzig 1808, the ten heart transformation therein contain some of my favorite cards.
Very original and using the heart symbol to combine two faces in an artistic way.
The Ace of Hearts provides the title for the book and is a truly lovely card.
All the transformation can be seen by clicking on the small pictures here.
In the 1850s there was a reproduction of this book which is also quite scarce - neither are mentioned in Field's standard work on the subject.

Book has some foxing which does not interfere with the plates. The spine of the book has some outer covering missing [ see pictures ] but the book is tight and is not coming apart.

Insured Postage is
included in the price

£2,000.00

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1811 Cowell Transformation Playing Card - Sheets

Offered are the five original sheets depicting the 52 transformation cards accredited to Nixon-Cowell-Jones for the year 1811.
The cards were sold in sheets thus avoiding the tax on Playing Cards  as in sheet form they were not regarded as 'made up'. 
The cards would have been cut from the sheets and hand painted by artists either for the publishers, Jones, or the purchaser.
These sheets have been cornered mounted on backing paper and are in very good condition.

Insured Postage is free on this item.

£2,500.00

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c1862 Nursery Rhyme Transformation Playing Cards
- Maclure, Macdonald & Macgregor
Four distinct issues are know to exist of this well crafted Transformation Deck - each of the designs differing in various aspects - the cards follow popular nursery rhymes which have survived to this day.
Even the Court cards are 'part of the action' and the clever design of the high pip cards reflects the imagination put into this design.
The Ace of Spades reflect the change in Duty in 1862 to 3 pence and the central area has again been used to follow the Nursery Rhyme theme. Interesting to note the use of gold on the crowns of the Kings and Queens
This deck was published by MacLure MacDonald & MacGregor from 77a Market Street, Manchester.
The deck is complete 52/52 and has a Blue Stared Back.
The deck is in Very Fine condition with non-distracting low level foxing.
The cards, as is common in this issue, are slightly concave.

First Class / Air Mail Postage: to UK - £3.00 / to Europe - £3.25 / to Other - £4.50 - insured is an additional £6.50 [U.K.] £7.75 [other]

£650.00

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1870 Frommann and Bunte - Transformation Deck.

This is the first edition of a pack issued c1870 in Darmstadt, Germany.
The packs contains 10 original designs, 19 appeared earlier in a pack by Braun & Schneider c1852 and 23 from Grimard's Jeanne l'Hachette pack in c1865

The eight of diamonds bears the letters M and F and the designs are printed in Brown Ink.
The cards are in very good condition showing no signs of wear, the box is distrssed missing the top flap and two side being nearly detached.
It bears a retailers label of "F Lavenna - Rue de Rhone 7 - Geneva" and the deck is entitled "Comic Karte" with a circus clown. It is interesting to note that Field states "

First Class / Air Mail Postage: to UK - £3.00 / to Europe - £3.25 / to Other - £4.50 - insured is an additional £6.50 [U.K.] £7.75 [other]

£550.00

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1876 Thackeray Transformation Playing Cards - Sheets.

William Makepeace Thackeray was a novelist and caricaturist and designed an incomplete pack of - Transformation Playing Cards - which his daughter published after his death in 1876.

He is said to have become bored with the project and never returned to it after his attempt to pass the time on a transatlantic crossing by designing these cards!

These cards are scarce and they can only be obtained from the book. We have not cut the plates so you have a chance to purchase them intact
for framing if that is what you desire.

There are 5 plates containing 21 playing cards – this is complete
The Plates are in very good condition, occasional very minor foxing around the edges, and are accompanied with the supporting pages which tell the story.

First Class / Air Mail Postage: to UK - £3.00 / to Europe - £3.25 / to Other - £4.50 - insured is an additional £6.50 [U.K.] £7.75 [other]

£140.00

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1878 Reynolds and Sons - Transformation Playing Cards.
The Transformation pack of 1878 was produced by the card makers Reynolds and Sons for E Couchman & Co from designed registered to R S Chapman.
Two version of this pack exists. This one where non of the cards are inscribed Chapman and packs that do.
We don't think either pack is rarer than the other.
This deck contains some of the cleverest and interesting attempts at transformation – the two of hearts being my favorite.
Also various cards mentioning other card games including cribbage and terms from the game.
The Ace of Diamonds is interesting in that it mentions "A Queer Pack" which is the name of another transformed pack of cards which wasn't published to 1910 - the 20th century publisher obviously taking note of this earlier reference.
This deck is complete 52/52 with plain green backs and are crisp and fresh, probably never played with; just handled.

First Class / Air Mail Postage: to UK - £3.00 / to Europe - £3.25 / to Other - £4.50 - insured is an additional £6.50 [U.K.] £7.75 [other]

£600.00

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1895 Vanity Fair Transformation Playing Cards

Issued in 1895 by the United States Playing card Company.
This is a complete deck 52 + Joker.

The Joker appears as a Devil and the Court Cards have been altered to make the faces and posture comical.

The pip cards are transformed quite tastefully and are well worth viewing.

This is deck No 41.x - it has gilt edges - the sort of luxury deck.
The cards have a Red Patterned back.
The cards we would grade as VF++, no tears bends or any distracting imperfections.

There is a box bearing the Two of Spades on the reverse; it is scruffy and is missing a top and bears signs of repair at the bottom

First Class / Air Mail Postage: to UK - £3.00 / to Europe - £3.25 / to Other - £4.50 - insured is an additional £6.50 [U.K.] £7.75 [other]

£175.00

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1973 Les Cartes du Vatican Transformation Playing Cards.

An Italian cartoonists clever designs for transformations using the Church as his subject.
It's a credit to the artist that, although the subject is limited, he managed to keep the theme for 52 cards.
This deck has been hand cut to shape from it's published book.

First Class / Air Mail Postage: to UK - £3.00 / to Europe - £3.25 / to Other - £4.50 - insured is an additional £6.50 [U.K.] £7.75 [other]

£75.00

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1988 Circus Transformation Playing Cards

Published by F Robert Schick (Posthumous) 1988. 'Circus Transformation Playing Cards' complete 54 cards superbly Gilt Edged Card with two jokers.
Limited to 1000 numbered decks. Extended explanatory booklet .
High quality larger than standard cards with gilt edges - mint as issued.
There is no box
A true 'Transformation' pack based on the Circus theme.
Published by his wife after his death.

First Class / Air Mail Postage: to UK - £3.00 / to Europe - £3.25 / to Other - £4.50 - insured is an additional £6.50 [U.K.] £7.75 [other]

£30.00

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Friends of the Earth Transformation Playing Cards

Made from Recycled Card

Flowers, Birds, Insects, Tigers and other animals are included on these cards that
are on a predominantly rain forest theme and are beautifully colored and drawn
The suit symbols on each card have been incorporated into a transformed picture
This deck of playing cards (52/52 + 2J + index was created by 54 artists and illustrators.
The Index lists the artists.
This deck was published by Andrew Jones Art, London
The cards are mint as is the box

First Class / Air Mail Postage: to UK - £3.00 / to Europe - £3.25 / to Other - £4.50 - insured is an additional £6.50 [U.K.] £7.75 [other]

£20.00

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1993 - The Key to the Kingdom – Transformation Playing Cards and book

Produced c 1993 - complete with a competition that ends 31st January 1994
The deck of cards is called The Enchanted Deck.
Each card illustrating a traditional verse or rhyme.
The accompanying book details each verse.
The inspiration is defined as Eastern Origins (and to William Blake)
The cards are mainly semi-transformation and are very beautiful.
The cards are book are all mint and in a presentation case

First Class / Air Mail Postage: to UK £4.00 / to Europe £4.25 / to Other £7.00 - insured is additional £6.50 [UK] - £7.75 other countries.

£22.00

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1995 Wild Semi-Transformation Playing Cards

Wild Semi-Transformation Playing Cards
Animals feature on cards - This deck of playing cards (52/52+3J)
are semi-transformation - - ie the pips are parts of the picture but not in their original positions
Each card features a wild animal - which is named - as usual the cards are beautifully drawn by Peter Wood.

The jokers are also lovely.The cards are mint as is the box.

First Class / Air Mail Postage: to UK - £3.00 / to Europe - £3.25 / to Other - £4.50 - insured is an additional £6.50 [U.K.] £7.75 [other]

£8.00

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1996 REPRODUCTION OF -
TOSCANA 1850 Transformation Playing Cards

TOSCANA 1850 Transformation Playing Cards
A wonderful Limited Edition Reproduction of this - Classic Transformation Pack.
The originals were created in 1850 and were named for The Tuscan region of Italy from which they originate. 
The designer of these cards was a well known - Caricaturist, Adolfo Matarelli (1832-1877)  
The designs are cleverly woven into contemporary scenes and the Clown as the Ace of Spades, the three Magic performing clowns as the Five of Spades 
Is such typical of the street scenes of the day.
This is full 52 card deck - plus TWO Jokers -
The cards in an exquisite hand made box. - All in mint condition

First Class / Air Mail Postage: to UK - £3.00 / to Europe - £3.25 / to Other - £4.50 - insured is an additional £6.50 [U.K.] £7.75 [other]

£15.00

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1999 - Peter Woods' Transformation Deck - 2000 PIPS

Each pip is cleverly 'transformed' into a vibrantly colourful picture, different on each card, providing endless fascination to the beholder.

Mint Deck, boxed, 52 Cards + Two Jokers

Limited Edition of 1,000 - Numbered and Signed by Peter Woods on inside of box flap.

First Class / Air Mail Postage: to UK - £3.00 / to Europe - £3.25 / to Other - £4.50 - insured is an additional £6.50 [U.K.] £7.75 [other]

£25.00

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2005 - Erotic transformation pack created by Eric Provoost.

Square Cornered large size [118mm*84mm] cards.
Produced in a numbered limited of 1500.

In most cases the images are semi-transformations and the nature of their subjects are nothing
less then very sexually explicit -
Please therefore only look at the additional photos if you will not be offended by this type of material.

Complete 52cards + 2 Jokers + 2 Extra cards - they come mint in a very neatly designed box.

First Class / Air Mail Postage: to UK - £3.00 / to Europe - £3.25 / to Other - £4.50 - insured is an additional £6.50 [U.K.] £7.75 [other]

£40.00

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2005 Under The Sea - Marine Transformation

Distributed by the UK for the Marine Stewardship Council

A group of 54 artists donated the art works used to create this transformation pack  with an 'under the water' nautical theme. 

Some of the distinguished arists include Damien Hirst, Dame Elizabeth Blackadder,  Anish Kapoor, Quentin Blake, Maggi Hambling and Paul Simonon. 

Sales of these cards  go to the registered charity Marine Stewardship Council (MSC),  which main function is promoting solutions to the problem of over-fishing. 

The backs of the cards display the MSC’s seafood eco-label.

Complete, Mint and suitably boxed.

First Class / Air Mail Postage: to UK - £3.00 / to Europe - £3.25 / to Other - £4.50 - insured is an additional £6.50 [U.K.] £7.75 [other]

£8.00

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2008 PIPS in Pictures Transformation Playing Cards

A Warercolour Transformation Deck with refreshing new designs from this up and coming artist

This is a limited edition of 100 and is illustrated with watercolour paintings by the Guernsey Artist

Jennifer Gaudion

Each Deck is numbered and presented in an attractive box = MINT

First Class / Air Mail Postage: to UK - £3.00 / to Europe - £3.25 / to Other - £4.50 - insured is an additional £6.50 [U.K.] £7.75 [other]

£30.00

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Metastasis - Transformation of Playing Cards - 1811

First published by S & J Fuller, Rathbone Place, London, September 1st 1811.

This Nixon-Fuller deck was the first English deck now commonly known as 'transformation playing cards' - the first use of the term "transformation".

A new reproduction edition of this truly rare deck is now available - 52 cards plus a title card plus an explanatory leaflet plus a reproduction of the original wrapper -
plus a unique box.

Post is free to any destination on the globe

£30.00

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