Greetings all. My name is Daniel Wilson, and I live in the sleepy little city of Greenville, Michigan. I'm mainly a collector, though I do have a scholarly interest in magic and magicians. (I grew up near the American Museum of Magic in Marshall, and once received an attic-to-basement personal tour from original founder Elaine Lund before her passing.)
I first got interested in playing cards thanks to the game shows "Card Sharks" and "Las Vegas Gambit", both of which featured decks of oversized playing cards. My actual collection started when I was four, after a very mean girl in kindergarten refused to allow me to play with her cards at recess. Later that week my mother gifted me with two double-deck sets of Hallmark Peanuts playing cards of my very own. In adolescence, my collection grew through souvenir decks from family trips to various tourist destinations. My family would also spend at least two weeks each summer in our travel trailer at a nearby campground. Some of my fondest memories during that time are playing cards with my family (and with the family of the girl who eventually became my wife as well).
Now that I'm older and have access to the Internet and a little bit of disposable income, I can finally start tracking down some of those interesting decks I've only seen in books. I find myself drawn mostly to decks with non-standard court cards, particularly the art nouveau and art deco cards around the 1930s when there was a lot of experimentation in design (the Hycrest Modern Royalty I bought in the 52+J auction last year is one of my favorite examples.) Of course, like any hunter, the thrill of the chase is as exhilarating as the acquisition, and there will always be one more deck to collect...
I've been a member of 52 Plus Joker for nearly a year now, and came to the forums through them. I hope to share what little knowledge I can, but intend to spend more time quietly learning from those who have more expertise than I.
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