Playing Cards Arden
Hello, my name is Nick Arden Thomas and I have been collecting, dealing and writing about playing cards for over forty five years and was a member of both the EPCS and the IPCS for many of those years. I'd like to acknowledge the following people. Sadly, the first three are no longer with us. Sylvia Mann from whom I learnt so much when I first began collecting and to whom I was fortunate to live quite close to in Kent in the early 1980's. I had many memorable lunches with her and Adrienne and was able to look and learn from her fantastic collection. John Berry was without doubt one of the leading experts in the world on playing cards, he catalogued the Waddington's collection and wrote and produced the massive book "Playing cards of the World". He also wrote many articles and papers for "The Playing Card" the journal of of the "IPCS." Major Donald Welsh was the drive behind and first President of, the EPCS. Very much still with us are: Ken Lodge whose forensic knowledge and research has given all collectors of cards valuable information. Peter Endebrock, who for more years than he probably cares to remember, has edited "The Playing card" and Rex Pitts, a walking encyclopedia of Pepys. Between them they taught me everything I didn't know. There are two other people I must mention; Simon Wintle and John Sings. Simon owns and runs the wonderful site WOPC, if you want up to date information about playing cards from across the world, go to WOPC. John, alongside his wife Ann are not only dealers and collectors but have been stalwart supporters and contributors of both the IPCS and the EPCS for many years. Both those organisations would have been a lot poorer were it not for their tireless and unselfish work. Their site houses many 17th and 18th century examples, cards you will not often find anywhere else and a must visit if you are interested in antique playing cards.