How Much Are These Playing Cards Worth?
Every once in a while – and, when I’m busy, much more frequently than that – a reader sends me an e-mail describing an old deck of playing cards, and asking how much the deck is worth.
Placing a monetary value on an old deck of playing cards is exactly like placing a monetary value on any antique or collectible. The short answer, and the most accurate, is that your old deck of playing cards is worth exactly what someone else is willing to pay you for it.
Not wishing to embark upon a career as an appraiser of old playing cards, and doubting that anyone would actually want to pay me decent money for such an appraisal, I will instead offer some advice on how you and other would be e-mailers can save time and can determine on your own just how much that old deck is worth.
![Cards Cards](https://images.collectors.com/smrweb/smr0716/1993-Magic-Gathering-Chaos-Orb-Alpha-MINT-9-20504721_sm.jpg)
Factors affecting the value of a deck of playing cards are these: desirability, scarcity, completeness and condition. Of these, desirability comes first. Your deck of playing cards could be scarce, complete, and in great condition, but if no one else wants it, it isn’t worth anything. On the other hand, a desirable deck that is scarce, complete, and in great condition could be worth a great deal. I recently received an auction catalogue from a German firm which listed a number of such decks (very old, very desirable) with estimated values of one, two, three thousand euros and more.
Vintage Card Prices - VCP is the authoritative baseball card price guide that includes basketball, football, hockey, boxing, other sports and non-sports based on historical auction sales.
Your deck probably isn’t worth that; but then, I can’t say.
![Playing Cards Prices Playing Cards Prices](https://thumbs.dreamstime.com/z/gambling-mafia-type-cigarette-playing-poker-20441271.jpg)
What you need to do is to identify your deck, determine the desirability of it, and candidly assess the deck’s condition.
Let’s talk about condition for a moment, because you can do that right now. Is the deck complete, or at least complete as far as you know? If it is a standard 52-card deck, are there 52 cards? Are there extra cards, including jokers? (These extra cards add to a deck’s value.) Is the deck in the original box? Do the cards seem to be as good as new, or are they bent, worn, ripped? Do they reek of mildew? Do they smell the slightest bit musty? How about the box? Does that look new, or is it in tatters? These issues are important, because if you’re going to try to sell the deck to someone, you need to describe it honestly.
- Basketball Card Price Guide - prices from actual card sales. The PriceGuide.Cards trading card database has prices achieved from actual card sales, not estimates. The aim is to provide factual information.
- Old Playing Cards Price / Value Guide: Browse FREE Old Playing Cards Price & Value Guide. FIND 1000's of Antiques, Art, Vintage & RARE Collectables - each item pictured, described and with it's price guide. Plus TODAY's SELECTED Old Playing Cards for Sale, BEST OFFERS, Auctions, Appraisals, FREE Sales Advice, FREE Sale Prices, Values.
- Product Title Poker Size Jumbo Index Playing Cards (Pack of 12), R. Average rating: 0 out of 5 stars, based on 0 reviews Current Price $34.37 $ 34. 37 List List Price $55.68 $ 55.
- Did you scroll all this way to get facts about playing cards? Well you're in luck, because here they come. There are 61196 playing cards for sale on Etsy, and they cost $14.80 on average. The most common playing cards material is metal. The most popular color? You guessed it: black.
I have bought decks of playing cards on eBay that were described as being in great condition and that were, when I received them, in terrible condition. Don’t be someone who does that. If you’re not sure how to describe playing cards, get an auction catalogue of playing cards from a reputable firm, and use that as a guide.
Now, what about identifying the cards themselves? This is, of course, the part that everyone is interested in. Resources for doing so are few, but they do exist. Chief among these resources, if one is speaking of American playing cards, is the Hochman Encyclopedia of American Playing Cards , edited by Tom and Judy Dawson. It is a great work, and card collectors owe the Dawsons a tremendous debt for their fine work with this encyclopedia. To quote from the publisher: “This 332-page volume (plus 24 in color) is based on Gene Hochman’s The Encyclopedia of American Playing Cards which was originally published in six parts between 1976 and 1981. A complete cataloging of American playing card makers as well as details, types, and brands of playing cards from the late 1700s to the early 1930s. 2,700 black and white illustrations, 324 color illustrations.” If you are a collector of playing cards you will, of course, want a copy for yourself. If not, ask your local library to obtain a copy.
Another book I’d recommend getting your hands on is Catherine Perry Hargrave’s A History of Playing Cards: And a Bibliography of Cards and Gaming. This is a reprint of an older work, so there’s no up-to-date information in it; but it is a very informative work, and has the added advantage of being remarkably inexpensive.
Armed with these two works, you’ll have a working knowledge of the historical development of playing cards (did you know they used to have square corners?), and a reasonable shot at identifying your deck.
You can, of course, also do internet research. If your deck says “Dondorf Spiel,” search on Google for Dondorf Spiel. And do use eBay to see if anything like your deck is currently listed. (I like eBay; I just don’t like eBay sellers who don’t accurately describe their wares.)
Now for the last step; join (or at least contact) a playing card collector’s group. There are two in the United States, and two in Great Britain, the most prestigious of all groups being the International Playing-Card Society. Usa online casinos 2018.
I hope this information is helpful to you. Finding a rare and truly valuable deck of playing cards doesn’t happen every day, but it does happen; and it would be great if it happened to you!
By popular demand, we have compiled a list of the value of Michael Jordan cards. These values come from our experience of the online marketplace and so the prices are in the range that you could expect to buy and sell cards in an online auction.
Often Jordan cards are worth a very different amount to their book value when sold online. Blog post for more information: what is the value of Jordan cards sold online?
The card values quoted are for cards which are:
- Sold online only and typically through online auction sites
- In near mint to mint condition
- Sold by a seller with a slightly above average reputation
- Listed in a slightly above average listing
- Ungraded
You may be interested in my blog post: tips for selling MJ cards with eBay.
Over time I will add to this list, starting in 1984 and working toward the present.
Note: Time constraints mean I haven’t been able to update these values for some time. They are intended as a guide only.