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Featuring in our February fine Art sale is Part II of this wonderful historic collection of playing cards.
13/02/2025
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Christopher Rayner was a keen collector of playing cards and formed his large collection over several decades, he was interested in all kinds of playing cards and was well-informed on the subject. He was a long-standing member of the International Society of Playing Cards and at various times served with great distinction as its secretary, chairman, vice president and president, regularly contributing to the society’s publications.
Outside of the world of playing cards, Chris was a hardworking and conscientious asylum support tribunal judge as well as being a social security judge and a parking and congestion charge adjudicator. These roles are testament to his strong moral compass, which, in retirement, spurred him on to engage in voluntary work with Beacon House helping the homeless restructure their lives and to volunteering with the local running group.
Part II of Christopher’s collection will be sold on the 19th of February and comprises 40 lots with estimates ranging from £40-700. It includes cards spanning three centuries, including a rare deck of cards from Revolutionary France and scarce hand made packs from iconic modern designers including Karl Gerich and Elaine Lewis.
Lot 1083, Estimate £100 - £150
Further offerings from the collection will appear in our sales throughout 2025.
Lot 150 in our Fine Art sale on the 9th and 10th of June is a wonderfully evocative collection of private correspondence from the Royal family and includes a special note from our King, His Majesty Charles III.
Introducing our early summer Harry Reeman’s Sale on the 2nd of June, including the usual eclectic array of antique furniture, furnishings, paintings, ceramics, silver and sundries and showcasing an enigmatic collection of shop contents from the long-standing interior design firm Woolpit Interiors.