Exceptional double deck of the rare, exciting, and extremely beautiful deck of cards published c.1986 by the Metropolitan Opera Guild, maker unknown, titled "Old Met Playing Cards." It featured photographs from the Met archives (and its Opera News) of some of the most celebrated opera stars of the 20th century, in roles (debut roles?) they performed at the Old Metropolitan Opera House at Broadway and 39th Street. To be precise, one of the two extra cards that accompany the deck states that the cards "feature photographs of artists who made their Met debuts at the Old Metropolitan Opera House at Broadway and 39th Street." Among the artists represented are Richard Tucker, Leonard Warren, Rosa Ponselle, Ezio Pinza, Lily Pons, Enrico Caruso, Rise Stevens, and Renata Tebaldi. On the Aces and court cards the artists' photographs have been superimposed on "the pattern of scrollwork adapted from the wall covering of the Sherry Grand Tier Salon located in the Old House."

Each deck has 52 cards, plus 2 Jokers, plus 2 extra cards. Both extra cards list the artists and their roles. One of the extra cards is backed, but the reverse side of the other introduces the deck. The cards are bridge size, measuring 89mm x 58mm. They come in a hard plastic box that may be original.

On of the two decks is mint and sealed; the other deck is "as new." The box is in excellent condition.

I have described this deck as rare, because I have been unable to find any mention of these cards on the internet or in any sources of information available to me. There also is a single deck of these cards for sale in this shop (T00002437).

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