Mix n Match: Natural World Playing Card Collection

cardlady22

This is a series of illustrated playing card decks published by US Games. As far as I can tell, the choices for each card are not based on any cartomancy lore. But, I've been thinking they might make a very customizable oracle!

If I've missed a deck, please let me know.

Aquarium Fish*
Freshwater Fish*
Saltwater Fish
Seashells
Gemstones*
Trees*
Butterflies
Insects and Arachnids*
Birds
Birds of Prey*
Wildflowers*
Cats
Dogs
Horses
Endangered Species*
Reptiles and Amphibians*

I'm going to add a post for each deck (that I have) to list what is included. I'd appreciate any help from those who have others of these decks.

ETA: There is a difference in the lamination from deck to deck. Back designs are different; tailored to the deck's theme.
 

hunter

I'm really interested in the wildflower and tree cards. I'm doing a lot of self-soothing and rituals right now more than readings. My clumsy, new experiments call for different cards than what I was using in the past. For tarot my current favorites are the Animal Wise and the Goddess. I think these 4 decks will be interesting together.

I feel guilty killing plants to add to my altar. I think cards might be nice.

I wish there was an herbal deck. Are the wildflowers also herbs?
 

cardlady22

Re: herbs
I wonder if there are any nice seed catalogs.

I have found my Gemstones and the Trees deck. Still looking for the Seashells. Major sorting planned for this weekend.
I'll be back after typing it all up.
 

cardlady22

Trees ~ Tomas Markevicius

Trees of the World- shows the tree and a close-up branch w/ leaves
almond
bay laurel
brewer spruce
butternut
California incense cedar
California redwood
cedar of Lebanon
Chilean fire bush
Chinese chestnut
Chinese or weeping willow
Chusan palm
common alder
common beech
common box
common yew
English hawthorn
English holly
English walnut
European ash
Greek strawberry
hornbeam
Indian horse chestnut
Japanese white pine
Kashmir cypress
large-leaved magnolia
maidenhair
monkey puzzle
Oregon maple
Pacific dogwood
paper birch
paper mulberry
pawpaw
pecan
Persian ironwood
persimmon
prickly juniper
redbud
rhododendron arboreum
sassafras
Scotch pine
silky camellia
silver birch
silver wattle
snow gum
Southern nettle
Spanish fir
Spanish or Southern red oak
spring cherry
sugar maple
sweet gum
umbrella pine
white oak
white poplar
wild sweet crab apple

1996, US Games
ISBN: 1-57281-018-1

printed in Italy *slick, glossy*
 

cardlady22

Gemstones ~ Virginijus Poshkus

Gemstones of the World- shows 2 forms of the specimen ~ top is "shaped" ie. facet, tumble or cab; lower is rough
agate
amazonite
amber
amethyst
almandine (garnet)
andradite garnet
aquamarine
azurite
black precious opal
brazilianite
brown quartz
chrysoberyl
citrine
diamond
diopside
dumortierite
emerald
fire opal
fluorite
garnet (pyrope)
heliotrope
hematite
jade
jasper
jet
labradorite
lapis lazuli
malachite
moonstone
morganite
obsidian
onyx
pearl
peridot
red coral
rhodochrosite
rock crystal (quartz)
rose quartz
ruby
sapphire
pink sapphire
sodalite
spinel
spodumene
sunstone
tektite (moldavite)
titanite
topaz
turquoise
watermelon tourmaline
zircon
gold {ring}
platinum {heart w/ hole}
silver {chalice}

1999, US Games
ISBN: 1-57281-216-8

printed in Canada
*I've had this deck for so long that I can't vouch for the original finish!
 

hunter

Thanks for the seed catalog idea! I can cut out the herbs and flowers and lay them on the altar.
 

cardlady22

Many a lovely, glossy catalog has been recycled into a deck here at my house! :laugh: Sometimes I contact the publisher/company and ask to pay for extras so I can have front and back without worrying what I might have to leave out.
 

Bernice

These are my illustrated playing card decks.

LS:
....Liberty
....Goethe
....Middle Ages
....German Renaissance
...and I still fancy The Living Flowers, so might soon end up getting it.


Piatnik:
....Biedermeierspiel

Lubeck Bantry (I think..):
....Eisbergfreistadt (panoramic deck)

Bee :)
 

hunter

What are the backs like? Are they all the same?