MEET “THE CONGRESS GUY”
I started collecting Congress playing cards in 2011 because I wanted an “old deck” to use in my family and friends poker club. At the time, I never knew that this brand existed. I became enamored with the artwork and soon after I began to seek out more decks. In 2017, I discovered and joined 52 Plus Joker, the largest playing card collectors club. In 2018 I started a Facebook page and also an Instagram profile, both dedicated to the brand. As I acquired more decks, I began to research everything about Congress that I could, and eventually created my first (free) website, with the help of my dad. In 2023, I had finally run out of space on the free website I was using and moved to a hosted site. As of November 2024, I have around 240 Congress decks spanning 120 years.
MEETING DAVID BLAINE
On the final day of the 52 Plus Joker 2023 Convention in Cleveland, Ohio, we were starting to pack up our collections when Lee Asher (our Club President) leaned down at me and said “Don’t be alarmed, but David Blaine just walked in”. I said “really? No way!” I turned around and there he was! I walked over to show him a very rare deck (1 of 2 known to exist at the time) and as I was waiting my turn to meet him, Mark Stutzman, the man who does all of his artwork was saying to him that at the end of the row was a guy with an amazing collection of Congress cards he was telling him about. He thought that my collection was put away and I said “no they’re still out”, and introduced myself and showed him the deck I was holding. After a couple minutes of him holding and me talking about this deck, I asked him if he would like to see my collection, feel free to stop by. A couple minutes or so later, he came over to my table and asked to see my oldest and rarest decks and asked questions about them as he held and looked through each one (4 or 5 in all). He thanked me, we took a selfie together and then went about the rest of the room to meet and talk with other attendees. Later I sent a text to Mark and asked him to thank David again for taking the time to look at and talk about some of my cards. Truly a very nice man. I received a text later saying “You have a beautiful collection that I knew he would enjoy seeing. I will let him know”. This convention was already great but the compliments from a world-famous magician to a simple playing card collector meant the world to me. I will not forget it.
MORE PHOTOS
My Table at 52 Plus Joker 2024
Talking Congress cards with Judy Dawson
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