I have just bought a pack of commemorative playing cards for the 200th anniversary of Waterloo. Each card (not just the royals) has a Waterloo related picture on it.

Great for collectors and ideal for anyone who uses normal playing cards in their wargames and would like to use something wargame themed.

Some details on my blog LINK - http://battlefieldswarriors.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Waterloo%20200

They're a nice commemorative piece.

I get the feeling now that the momentum is gathering now in the lead up to the anniversary and looking forward to more of this kind of thing coming up. The cards are interesting and we were lamenting the other night in the house that we no longer had a pack of playing cards in the house. However, I would have preferred a more dynamic image on the rear of the cards - you know, some sort of action scene like the charge of the Scots Greys, the French cavalry attack with British squares or at Hougoumont or street fighting in Plancenoit. By the way, couldn't immediately see where the cards were for sale on the Waterloo200.org website. Nevertheless, an interesting site to dip into later when time allows.

P.S. As for using the cards in a war-game, we used to use ordinary playing cards in the days of simultaneous moving and firing to determine who pulled the trigger first as it were.  

Got mine at the local Waterstones.

Mollinary

Not sure if these should be mentioned here or on the Top totty thread

Napoleonic pin-up playing cards

They can be bought here (below) as can a load of other cards - i never knew there was such a collectors world of cards, really interesting.

LINK - http://www.birdplayingcards.com/collection.php

They are nice. Not too sure about 'both sides' from Waterloo being represented though, I was always under the impression that the Prussians were there as well.

Anyone remember the ACW set from back in the day, the one with the replica money and bubble-gum in? I believe they did a WW II set as well. Bit graphic if memory serves.

Don't remember the WW2 version but I still have a couple of the Confederate "dollars" that came with them.

Quote from: Subedai on 14 April 2015, 05:30:13 PM
They are nice. Not too sure about 'both sides' from Waterloo being represented though, I was always under the impression that the Prussians were there as well.

Anyone remember the ACW set from back in the day, the one with the replica money and bubble-gum in? I believe they did a WW II set as well. Bit graphic if memory serves.

Yes, I remember both of those from my Primary School Days!  The ACW ones were very graphic colour artwork, the WW2 were black and white photos. I remember stories of people successfully exchanging the Confederate notes at banks at dollar/pound exchange rates! We used to swap to try and complete collections, I seem to remember giving about thirty cards for the last one I needed for the set.

Mollinary

Anyone remember rifling through a huge stack of cards as your potential swapee went:  "got...got...got...got..."

Happy days.

Yep. Until mentioned, I'd forgotten about these! In retrospect, a good introduction to these historical periods. They must have been re-released several times. Chewing gum was rubbish and, yes, some of the ACW card images were very graphic (one sticks in my mind - did it portray an artillery limber running over the bloody stump of some soldier's leg?). There was also The Man From U.N.C.L.E. set.  Happy days, indeed.

I bought a second pack today. I can see these getting a lot of use.

Quote from: Westmarcher on 14 April 2015, 07:10:32 PM
Yep. Until mentioned, I'd forgotten about these! In retrospect, a good introduction to these historical periods. They must have been re-released several times. Chewing gum was rubbish and, yes, some of the ACW card images were very graphic (one sticks in my mind - did it portray an artillery limber running over the bloody stump of some soldier's leg?). There was also The Man From U.N.C.L.E. set.  Happy days, indeed.

Yes, I remember the artillery limber - also I think someone impaled on a chevaux de frise?

Mollinary

Not forgetting the MARS ATTACKS set

I remember the ACW set well, wish I still had them now. I was at primary school and they came out to mark the 100th anniversary. Also one of the reasons the ACW has always been the period I always go back to. Mollinary - I seem to remember the one you are referring to was about the battle of Champions Hill.

Cheers Paul

Quote from: mollinary on 14 April 2015, 07:14:38 PM
Yes, I remember the artillery limber - also I think someone impaled on a chevaux de frise?

Yep. I think you're right! Didn't they realise how much this would be imprinted on our young minds? But did it do us any long term harm? (damn! .. what have I said? .... sshhh, getagrip!)  

Quote from: Bernie on 14 April 2015, 07:18:42 PM
Not forgetting the MARS ATTACKS set

Sorry, Bernie. After my time - but fun to know that the genre carried on!  

T13 - Would be so nostalgic seeing them again.

Sorry for hijacking this thread but re. ACW cards check this out:

http://www.oldbubblegumcards.com/1960s/Civil-War-News/index.html

Oh memories....

Cheers Paul

Quote from: T13A on 14 April 2015, 08:04:08 PM
Sorry for hijacking this thread but re. ACW cards check this out:

http://www.oldbubblegumcards.com/1960s/Civil-War-News/index.html

Oh memories....

Cheers Paul

Woah, they are bloody!

Quote from: Westmarcher on 14 April 2015, 07:55:45 PM
Yep. I think you're right! Didn't they realise how much this would be imprinted on our young minds? But did it do us any long term harm? (damn! .. what have I said? .... sshhh, getagrip!)  
Sorry, Bernie. After my time - but fun to know that the genre carried on!  

T13 - Would be so nostalgic seeing them again.

I think the Mars Attacks cards may have been marginally  before your time!  I recall having a few, and then they were banned for being outrageously gory, and my parents confiscated the few I had! I think it was very much about the same time, possibly with the Mars Attacks ones slightly earlier. We are talking c1962, I think.

Mollinary

Quote from: T13A on 14 April 2015, 08:04:08 PM
Sorry for hijacking this thread but re. ACW cards check this out .........

Brilliant find T13! Some absolute crackers there! Didn't remember just how graphic the images were in that series.  

Quote from: mollinary on 14 April 2015, 08:21:10 PM
I think the Mars Attacks cards may have been marginally  before your time!  I recall having a few, and then they were banned for being outrageously gory, and my parents confiscated the few I had! I think it was very much about the same time, possibly with the Mars Attacks ones slightly earlier. We are talking c1962, I think.

Interesting. Didn't realise they were that early (was thinking of the 1996 'Mars Attacks!' movie). Being marginally before my time is about right. I was 8 in 1962 and don't remember encountering bubble cards until I was a little older.