2009 JOINT CONVENTION with IPCS
Our 2009 convention was held in Toronto, Canada, from October 8 to October 11, 2009. We were very pleased to be joined by The International Playing-Card Society [IPCS] and by all accounts it was a great success. It was their third convention in North America and the second time we agreed to meet together to share our mutual interest in the study and collecting of old and unusual playing cards. The extract below is from Steve Bowling's report in the December 2009 issue of Clear the Decks.
REPORT by STEVE BOWLING
Our annual convention in Toronto, jointly held with the International Playing Card Society, was spectacular. We very much appreciated the IPCS members who, in presentations and individually, added significantly to our convention and in particular to our understanding of the history of playing cards. Since the convention timing coincided with Canadian Thanksgiving, our banquet was a delicious turkey feast that was one of our best.
The highlights clearly were the displays meticulously arranged by Tom Dawson. First we were treated to a private tour of the Royal Ontario Museum’s collection of playing card items featuring old European decks, artwork and printing blocks. But the museum experience paled in comparison to the displays from the collections of the Dawson’s, Shaffique Verjee and Jim Faller. Tom and Judy shared their fabulous array of ephemera and advertising, Shaffique allowed us to see MANY rare decks that most members will never see and Jim regaled us with rare 19th century gambling (and cheating) pieces that prevailed during the less-than-controlled growth of the western United States. The club has produced a full color catalogue of the displays and it is available for $12 for those of you who missed it.
We are very excited about our 2010 Convention planned for New Orleans next September 22 - 26. The 52 Plus Joker website will include updates on the Convention and the hotel information.