For many magicians, playing cards have an undeniable fascination; enthusiasts eagerly snatch up every newly released pack they can get their hands on. (As someone wryly posted on Facebook, designer decks are the magical equivalent of Beanie Babies.) For serious playing-card collectors, their interest transcends the mere aesthetic appeal of new back and face designs. They study the history of playing card manufacturing: the mechanical processes involved, the innovations discovered, and the businessmen who headed the companies that provided settlers, gamblers, and just-plain-ordinary folk with a convenient way to pass the time.

When it comes to the history of playing cards, Lee Asher and Jason McKinstry are two of the most knowledgeable people on the planet. Lee Asher is know for his many contributions to card magic. Jason McKinstry is not a magician; he is a collector and historian, and he has recently published the first volume of a new series of books: Paper Empires – A Historical Journey of America’s Early Playing Card Makers. 

The three of us had a lively discussion about playing card history, with a focus on two of the major players – Samuel Hart and Andrew Dougherty. We also discussed how improved card manufacturing technology influenced the development of advanced card magic techniques and the fact that we’re currently living in a golden age of playing card production.