Custom Playing Cards, Far From Home

 I love playing cards and I have a  hoard bunch of them. I'm not a connoisseur or anything, I just think they're pretty or fun,  and most of them aren't particularly special.

This isn't even close to all of them....

But there are a few..... 

While trying to sort and organize them, I stumbled across this lovely deck of  vintage cards. Velvet box, custom backs. These seem like they're maybe just a bit special. 

The backs of the cards feature a very classy looking gentleman pulling a bunny out of a hat, and also the Best Wishes and signature of Jay B. Smith. After a little poking around on the internet, I think I may have found out who he was.

(Article from the pages of Doug Houser's Maplewood History book, Volume One)

https://40southnews.com/maplewood-history-being-made-or-at-least-re-lived/

Seems J.B. Smith was an undertaker for the town of Maplewood, Missouri (just a bit outside of St. Louis) in the 1930s, and he was also a magician! 

How a deck of his custom playing cards made it all the way to Colorado I can't say. They're in terrific shape for their age,  and don't feel like they've ever even been shuffled! 

I'm not entirely sure where I found these, but my guess is at Mago's Magic Shop (way back in the day when Colorado still had a magic shop. -sigh- I miss that shop so much.) 

I was unable to find a picture of J.B. Smith to compare the card backs to, so I'm going to reach out to Doug Houser, Maplewood historian, and see if this is his J.B. Smith and if he would like these. I'd be happy to mail them back to their home in Missouri so they can be a part of J.B. Smith's magical history. 

Though, knowing magicians, it's also possible that his family has a box of 500 of these (well, 499 since I have one) in an attic somewhere.

If so, or if I never hear from Mr. Houser, they're welcome to stay right here, in my weird little playing card hoard. :) Another green whisker for my collection. 

- Wendy 

I have not been active on any social media sites, though I did just dust off my old magick FB page - MagickGoneWylde. I don't know what will become of that either. You can message me on FB, or send me an email. You can find my email address on my blog profile .