The Holland America Line Collectors Reference Library
Playing Cards

Since the early 1900s the Holland America Line has issued playing cards on board for the entertainment of their passengers.  The earliest playing cards were specifically targeted to First Class passengers and consist mainly of beautifully decorated single deck cards in special hard carboard boxes. As time progressed and the Line's focus changed from emigration to cruises, we see the card decks become less elaborate gifts and more utalitarian as you can see in the images below.

The cardbacks allow us to identify the era in which they were used, as they usually depict the Line logo of the period. The below collection is incomplete and if you have a card or card deck that you do not see in the below exposition, please email me at tiemen @ halpostcards . com (spaces inserted to prevent autobot searches). I would welcome either a 300dpi scan or an opportunity to purchase/trade the actual card or deck.
Thank you
Tiemen Spits

The N.A.S.M. logo era

If identical card decks existed in different colors, they will be shown in the table side by side.

Collection Spits
nasm-001		 Collection Spits
nasm-001a		 Collection Spits
nasm-002		 Collection Spits
nasm-005		Collection Spits
nasm-006
Collection Spits
nasm-006a		 Collection Spits
nasm-010		 Collection Spits
nasm-011		 Collection Spits
nasm-015
Collection Spits
nasm-016
Collection Spits
nasm-020		 Collection Spits
nasm-021		 Collection Spits
nasm-025		 Collection Spits
nasm-026
Collection Spits
nasm-027
Collection Spits
nasm-027a		 Collection Spits
nasm-027b		 blank space blank spaceblank space

 The Tri-wave logo era

If identical card decks existed in different colors, they will be shown in the table side by side.. 
.
Collection Spits
tw-001		 Collection Spits
tw-002		 Collection Spits
tw-005		 Collection Spits
tw-006		Collection Spits
tw-010
Collection Spits
tw-011		 Collection Spits
tw-015		 Collection Spits
in box with tw-015
 blank spaceblank space

The Half Moon logo era

If identical cards exist in different colors, they will be shown in the table side by side.
Collection Spits
logo-001		 Collection Spits
logo-002		 Collection Spits
logo-005		 Collection Spits
logo-006		Collection Spits
logo-010
Collection Spits
logo-011		 Collection Spits
logo-015		 Collection Spits
logo-016		 Collection Spits
logo-017		Red logo missing
logo-020
Collection Spits
logo-021		 Blue logo missing
logo-022		 Collection Soits
logo-025		 Collection Spits
logo-026		Collection Spits
logo-027
Collection Spits
logo-028		 Collection Spits
logo-030		 White logo missing
logo-031		 Collection Spits
logo-032
Red logo missing
logo-035
White logo missing
logo-036		 Collection Spits
logo-037		 blank space
 blank space
blank space

The Modern era

If identical cards exist in different colors, they will be shown in the table side by side.
Collection Spits
mod-001		 Collection Spits
mod-002		 Collection Spits
mod-003		 Collection Spits
mod-005		Collection Spits
mod-006
Collection Spits
mod-007		 Collection Spits
mod-008		 Collection Spits
mod-009
 Collection Spits
mod-009a		Collection Spits
mod-010
Collection Spits
mod-011		 Collections Spits
mod-012		 blank space blank spaceblank space

Casino playing cards

If identical cards exist in different colors, they will be shown in the table side by side.
Collection Spits
cas-001		 Collection Spits
cas-002		 Collection Spits
cas-003		 Collection Spits
cas-003a		Collction Spits
cas-004
Collection Spits
cas-010		 blank space blank space blank spaceblank space

Commemorative playing cards

If identical cards exist in different colors, they will be shown in the table side by side.
Collection Spits
rot-1974-001		 Collection Spits
rot-001
 Collection Spits
rot-001a		 Collection Spits
rot-001b		Collection Spits
rot-1999-001
Collection Spits
rot-2000-001		 Collection Spits
rot-2000-002		 Collection Spits
135year-001		 Collection Spits
135year-002		blank space


Copyright Tiemen Spits 1999-2013