
One of the fascinating articles in the latest issue of the Devil’s Artisan dives into a rather non-traditional project taken on by Canadian painter David B. Milne in the early 1940s. Milne became fascinated by the history of playing cards and created a series of watercolours featuring the characters we normally see on face cards–kings, queens and knaves/jacks. These watercolours were later used to create actual decks of playing cards in 1973 by Stan Bevington and David Silcox.
You can read about this fascinating project in DA 88.
You can also purchase one of a limited number of sets of these playing cards, should you find the project of particular interest. Keep reading for information about the set and how to order.
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(David Milne/Coach House Press/Stan Bevington/David Silcox). A set of two decks of the standard 52 playing cards plus two jokers each, measuring 9 x 6.3 cm (standard size), designs based on two watercolours by David Milne. (Toronto: Coach House Press, 1973). 1 of 100 sets in a custom-made wooden box (11.5 x 14.8 cm, either Ontario white pine or Ontario walnut) with a sliding lid.

The rectos of both decks are illustrated with a watercolour design from Milne’s ‘King, Queen, and Jokers’ I and II — the first deck features a reproduction of figures taken from of one watercolour image in ‘King, Queen, and Jokers I’, while the second deck features a reproduction of figures from one watercolour image in ‘King, Queen, and Jokers II.’ The figures for the knaves, queens, kings and jokers are taken from the Milne watercolours, which in the original watercolours are full-figures but for the face cards in the decks are depicted in the more traditional three-quarter figure.
In an interview with Don McLeod in DA: The Devil’s Artisan (issue 88, 2021), Stan Bevington discusses the genesis and evolution of these cards and details their printing and production. The process involved the use of integrated random grain screenless photography and a complicated colour separation procedure.
$1,250
Sets of the cards can be ordered from David Mason Books at:
dmbooks@bellnet.ca or 416-598-1015
Appointment is necessary to view. Please call.