Collecting History

Well its a long storey. . .

Are you sitting comfortably? . . .

Then I'll begin.

My Introduction

My introduction to the world of collecting had been a little unconventional in that I had been a work place/street gambler. I won my first motorcycle on hand of cards and lost a week’s wage an hour after being paid. I also had learning difficulties, as a result of contracting Meningitis at an early age. I wasn't expected to lead any kind of independent life. I wasn't very communicative and had anti social tendencies. However, I loved playing cards. The jokers always caught my eye and I was always struck by their individualistic designs and abstract beauty.

Early days

Whenever I came across the odd collector during my earlier life. I was very scornful and would ridicule them. Get a life, grow a pair seemed to the prevailing feeling at that time. It wasn’t until the mid to late 70’s that I realised that I had a collection of my own. One day, when there was no card school, I cleared out my work locker and among all the well-worn packs were these pristine cards. These of course were the jokers. After spreading them out on a large table, I was immediately grabbed by their intrinsic beauty and abstract designs. Yes, from that moment on, I fell in love with the joker and became an avid collector in my own right.

During the mid to late 70’s the collection total reached 80. Wow! I hear some say. After 10 years? Well, there didn't seem to be any other joker collectors around and I was using the same old decks. Jokers themselves were just not that plentiful. Jokers then, as they are now, are a relatively new collectable. I was also academically challenged and could barely read or write, not good credentials for any collector. But crucially and naively I believed that I was the only individual crazy enough to collect them.

First Other Collector

One day, whilst working for London Transport in one of their many depots. A work colleague drew my attention to a newspaper advert. "Joker Collector seeks jokers from playing cards". It was hard to believe that there was another out there. When we eventually met, I learnt that he was a magician, a carpenter by trade and lived locally. Naively believing that I had the upper hand and superior collection, I sought to Wow! him with my 80 + collection. However, I got the opposite reaction, ‘ Really!. I have 300 and they are all Japanese’, came his reply. Well, it was me who was gob smacked, shocked and amazed and like like a dog with its tail between its legs, it taught me a valuable lesson in humility. It also dispelled the firmly held belief that there were only ever 80 jokers to collect.

We used to meet up regularly and on one of these occasions he introduced me to what I was to discover was the second biggest joker collector in the country. I believe he organised the first ever meeting of English joker collectors, in London. I also learnt for the first time that there many other collectors, not just here in the UK but in Europe, the United States and indeed throughout the world.

UK

The 80’s was a golden era for UK joker collectors and my collecting in general. At least 30 to 40 collectors emerged and made themselves known. Meetings were organised; we traded, bought and sold cards of all descriptions. A handbook for collectors was published and a lose knit group was formed called the Jolly Jokers, England. European visits were made and our international contacts grew. My personal contact list contained 128 collectors in 25 countries. You can view this list in the 'History' section. Unfortunately, most of collectors mentioned are now untraceable or have passed on. At least two of those are still collecting and remain active in the Face Book group called the Joker Collectors Club. Which illustrates just how engaging and long term, joker collecting can be. Becoming a member of (CCPC Inc, IPSC and EPS) the 3 main playing card societies was a must. They were invaluable both for educational reasons and networking purposes. Friendships were made and comradery reciprocated. I recall Major Donald Walsh of the English Playing card society, asking me to do an article on British jokers, this was never completed by the way but I did publish an article (History section) in Collectors Monthly Magazine.

By this stage I was adding 2 to 300 jokers a month. In those days the main playing card dealers were also selling bundles of jokers at a reasonable prices. I don’t think Ebait was active then, photocopies and printed matter were the order of the day. There wasn’t access to the world-wide-web as we know it today. Everything depended on snail mail. It was great receiving jokers from many parts of the world. There was a guy in California who used to visit yard sales and thrift shops then sell me the jokers he had accumulated. At that time, I think it was 5 jokers for £1. I would collect empty beer cans, cigarette packets and beer coasters, for South America and the USA and in return receive jokers.

At the time I operated Dans Vans (East London) a company that we set up. We had a contract with a major charity. Imagine getting paid to visit 40 thrift shops each week. Cultivating the staff of these shops to look out and save playing cards. All those decks and other interesting items.

During this period we welcomed a number of collectors into our home, including those from the States and Europe. I remember. they always asked for a cup of tea. We British are renowned for our tea drinking, I guess they wanted to tell folks back home, they shared in that experience. . . lol

Joker collectors haven’t always been the flavour of the month. From time-to-time I encountered resentment, hostility and hypocrisy (akin to prejudice), from fellow playing card enthusiast, of all people! It appears joker, advert back and spade ace collectors have to take the blame for any incomplete decks they happen to come by. Somehow, we are committing a mortal sin by our collecting and should be ostracized for doing so. I was personally banned from a shop that sold playing cards and told that I wasn't welcome there, yet the proprietor, sold me single jokers by post on several occasions. Animosity is for the playground and has no place in the collecting fraternity. There's enough division in the world, we don't want this to infect our community. Competition and rivalry fair enough but I’d prefer to promote comradery and shared complementary interest. Grow up and get a life people, there's enough hypocrisy out their as it is. Let’s all enjoy the enchanting world of playing cards together. I treasure what decks that I have, as do others. Most joker collectors have crossover interest and collect complete decks anyway.

Lifetime Partner and Support

Without intending to be sexist or to stereotype people, they say behind every successful man is a good woman. In my case this proved to be true. Doreen (Dor) was my lifetime partner, my rock and salvation in life. A Batcheler of Arts (BA) university educated teacher and at that time a pioneer in Information Technology. Not only did she liberate me spiritually, empowered me emotionally but also supported me through my learning difficulties . . .and collecting activities too.

The internet was still in its infancy in those days. Most of the trading was done by snail mail. This was a little problematic due to significant learning difficulties. Dor, my soul mate and lifetime partner was always there to help and support me. She would check my spelling and suggest better grammar. A letter at that time would take normally take me a week before it was ready to post. At a much later stage Dor taught me how to use Windows 95 and dos computer language, which are both ancient and long forgotten now. Correspondence became a lot more comfortable then. Vocabulary improved and I became a more social animal. I began appreciate and use a more appropriate level of expression. You'll understand why, when I say, there will always be place in my heart and soul for Dor.

Another important and influential role model in my life at that time, was Trevor McDonald. Treavor, was a black newsreader on a major tv channel, here in the UK. He spoke the Kings perfect English, like no other. I have a lot to thank this guy for and still look up to and respect this man. Both Dor and Treavor helped to develop my poor communication skills into what they are today.

Europe

There were two groups of English collectors who would frequent Europe. Most of the meetings would be in Belgium but I recall one in Holland. We used to stay at a home of Dutch collector called Henk who held a high position in Rothmans, the cigarette company. He brought a spade ace collection from me. Though I never did get to Turnhout - the home of Carta Mundi.

European meetings seemed a little chaotic in nature but they were always well attended. They were usually held in a large venue like a hall. Some collectors would sit behind tables in which open albums (not just jokers) would be display. Whilst other collectors came by to have a look. If you weren’t fortunate enough to have a table you had to trade, where you stood. The problem being is that you could be dealing with 3 collectors at once all taking out cards from your books whilst at the same time you would be asked to select trades from their books. In these circumstances you needed be calm and cool but alert, have a photographic memory and be able to make quick decisions. From these meetings you could expect to bring back home at least 150 or so new jokers. These meetings were a high point in the year, something to look forward to. Imagine being spoilt by choice, being offered jokers left right and centre . . .I was like a kid in a candy store . . .lol.

There was also a memorable meeting in Liège. Having driven across Belgium. I got lost in the city and requested help from the local police station. They were friendly and accommodating in fact they asked me to follow them. What I wasn’t expecting was for them to turn their blue lights on and go like a bat in hell through those narrow-cobbled streets. It was a hair raising journey but I was so relieved to arrive at the meeting and I’m pleased to say in one piece.

Language was no barrier at these meetings. They would want something from you and you would want something from them. Simple, you both make the effort to trade. Communication is overcome by need and desire.

On occasions my company would carry out work in Europe, which enabled me to meet up with other collectors. One such job involved moving a book shop from Brussels back to England. I met Andre Sels a Belgian whom I had been trading with for years, on 3 occasions. Met his wife, had lunch together and viewed his collection. As always it was great meeting other collectors in a more relaxed and informal setting. Back in the day, meeting other collectors socially in your own home or in theirs was a special and rewarding experience.

USA

North America was the last frontier as far as joker collecting goes. It was the nation that gave birth to the spare/extra/wild card and Best Bower to name a few. These were the fore runners that would eventually evolve into the joker card as we know it today and are very much sought after by the serious joker collector. This was my personal Mecca, a place I had to visit as part of my collectors dream.

Having traded with American collectors for some time, joining the Chicago Playing Card Collectors Inc (CPCC Inc) seemed like a natural progression. It was great to welcome some as visitors into my home. Dor and I decided to attend both the 1990 and 1991 conventions. It was awesome to put faces to names and vice versa. Networking and interacting was great fun and very rewarding.. Making new contacts, not just here but in Europe and Australia to. The conventions themselves conjure up very special memories which I still treasured after all these years.

Van Jones was not just another collector but a good and trusted friend. He first contacted me around 1988 -89 asking if we had any 'Scotties' . He had six real life Scottish Terrier dogs and his home was a shrine to them. You name it, lamp shades, crookery, toilet seats and door knockers all seem to have had Scottie dog theme. Van was very influential in my collecting. He was also one of four archivist at the USPC Co Museum Playing Card Museum. Van, may have been a larger than life chap. Very loud and extravert and a joker in his own right. He would jest with me about most things but he was also kind, warm and generous. Along with his wife Margie the four of us jelled well.

After attending the 1990 convention Van made concerted and strenuous efforts, to get us to attend the following year. He kept mentioning a special surprise that would be awaiting me if I could make it. But he wouldn't tell me what it was. It materialised that the special surprise was the Playing Card Museum Joker poster. A giant full colour poster illustrating 72 jokers. Something which I prize to this very day. I also got to meet Van's fellow colleagues and go behind the scenes. Saw collections and jokers that I had never seen again since. Had a special tour of the factory and had a chat with the workers who produced playing cards. I was living the dream from a joker collector point of view. I felt very honoured and privileged to be given this kind of access.

He once posted me a tube with ten of these joker posters in, a considerable weight in themselves. After reading the letter enclosed with it, I realised that 500 jokers had also been included but had somehow got lost. There was little hope of there recovery but the loss was reported and to my amazement, 10 days later, the British postal service made good and delivered them by secure signed for post. Naturally I was ecstatic , over the moon!

On another occasion, Van contacted me about an old Scottie dog electric fire that a friend of his had seen, in an antique shop in London. Unfortunately, two months had elapse since. I didn't hold out much hope of buying it for him, not only because of the length of time involved but he could only give me a rough location. Luckily I knew the area concerned and had a pretty good idea of the antique mall concerned. It was hard to keep cool, calm and collective when I finally found it but it was the best ever gift that I could give my long term fellow collector friend. A way of paying back all that generosity and kindness.

During our 1991 visit, we stayed at Van and Margie's home. Apart from his work at the playing card museum, Van played the Wurlitzer Organ at a place called the Shady Nook, in Kentucky. He would always announce our presence, where ever he took us 'These are my friends from England' and embarrassingly, more often than not, paid the bill.

Sadly, time waits for no man or woman. Van and many more of my fellow collectors of yesterday year have since passed on. Regretfully the CPCC Inc. has ceased to exist. Its records have now been absorbed and amalgamated into the 52+ joker club. Barbara Luneburg (another previous trading partner) whom held office with the CPCC Inc. is now a custodian of there records.

Tragedy

When Dor unexpectedly passed away on 1st July 1994, my world fell apart. Both life itself and purpose were devalued beyond belief. As the song by Jim Morrison (The End) lamented, I was never to look into her eyes ever again. I lost all sense of direction and meaning. Such was my loss, the pain of grief lasted for many years. My business suffered and eventually folded. Our large house lay empty and bereft. My passion for joker collecting waned and snuffed out. The collection was put into storage in a dirty and damp garage and was to remain there for nearly 30 years.

During those intervening years, the quality of life did recover. I had relationships, travelled, spent time in Russia, China and Thailand and yes went back to work again. I met and married a school teacher in rural north east Thailand in 2004. We have two children . . .well young adults now. . . lol. I also retired from my work with the Salvation Army, 2014.

Fast forward to 2020

In 2020 (during Covid 19) pandemic, I came across the Face Book group, called Joker Collectors Club (JCC). Although it has a slightly centric feel about it, with most active posters from Belgium and The Netherlands, these are natural centres of the joker collectors world. Belgium is sometimes called a nation of collectors, it is also the home of one of the biggest playing card company's, Carta Mundi. They say, once a collector always a collector and I guess that is true, in my case anyway. Once I saw those jokers again it was like love at first sight. . . second time round!

It was time to revisit and restore my collection which had been hidden from view, under motorcycle parts and various junk over the years. Unfortunately it had suffered both physical abuse the affects of damp and around 8,000 jokers were lost. So despondent, I almost gave up at this point. Any collection, represents time, effort and of course money. To lose so many was truly devastating. To keep some kind of order in this situation was very difficult, each card had to be assessed and collection reorganised. It's taken years and is still not right. Especially when jokers are being added on a daily basis. My collection is now digitally organised but not data organised.

With a collecting gap of nearly 30 years, it is difficult to know where to start again. I had list of collectors whom I had traded with in 1994 (see History). out of 128 only 4 of these remain traceable. I have made contact with 2 of these via the JCC. Another Australian collector has since retired but given over her collection to her daughter. A fourth no longer collects but does still deals in jokers.

One of the biggest shocks I have noticed since collecting again, is both the popularity and high prices of jokers on Ebait. I'm not certain if Ebait was even trading in 1994 but I do recall jokers were more reasonably priced them. Mail and postage rates have risen astronomically. Since the UK voted to leave the EU trading with collectors in Belgium and Holland has become problematic going into (not out) of those countries.

To be continued . . .

Renewed interest and new life.

Present day