I received an email from Babs, a good friend of this blog. Babs is working on a very interesting and novel project. As she wrote, “I am looking for older Mah Jongg cards. I am trying to make a complete image collection of all cards from the first year the NMJL made the card to the present. A big task, I know….do you or your “friends” have any images of cards from the following years: 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1996, 1993, 1992, 1979, 1978, 1977, 1975, 1974, 1972, 1971, 1970, 1969, 1967, 1966, 1962, and all earlier years. Hope you can help or point me to a friend that can…
I am not aware of anyone else who has tried to put this together. I think it would be fascinating to see all the different hand combinations since the early days of Mah Jongg. Yes, I did get a number of images off eBay, but they are not complete. Most are missing the rules page which tell you the number of Flowers/Jokers for the years, or the images are too blurry to see all the hands. I have googled umpteen hundred searches for every year from 1938 and on (searching: nmjl, mah jongg card, mah jongg rule, mah jongg hands) so far to try and complete this, but there are not enough images online to make complete renderings of all the years. I have managed to buy a lot of cards when they are reasonable in price…but some people are charging $40.00 or more dollars for a single card…ridiculous! Considering I have 78 years to find, that’s quite expensive. Any help is appreciated. I don’t care if they have 6 separate images for each card’s panel or have 2 images , one for each side. I am stitching together what I can….and if anyone wants to donate their cards in the years I noted, I am happy to provide an address to send it to….:) My oldest card, that I own is 1944. Let me tell you, there have been some crazy hands……….Thanks! Babs”
So, if anyone has cards from the years that Babs has cited, please let me know and I will put you in touch with her.
It would be such fun to see the finished product so let’s try to help her, even if we are just loaning her cards to use for the images.
Mah Jongg and Me 
I have a copy of a 1999 card (it came in an old set I found on ebay), but unfortunately it’s only a color copy of the front – no instructions, etc, from the back. I’d be happy to send it along if that would help.
And Ann, my very best wishes to you in your ongoing treatment. As my dad always used to say, getting older isn’t for sissies 🙂
Yours,
Karen
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Karen – hugs to you for your very kind message…your dad was so right! And thank you for your offer regarding the 1999 card – I will let Babs know.
Ann xxo
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Karen, thanks for replying! Absolutely, send it to me. I am happy to get half a card. I can try to piece it together from someone else who may have the other information. perhaps Ann can send me your contact info so we can get in touch directly or she can email you my email address. let me see…..
THANKS
babs
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And I gave away my “old” cards dating back 40 years ago!!! Never thought they would be so valuable!!! I have 3 “old” Oriental sets and one set I believe is vintage! Will check out how much they are worth before I do something foolish again, like giving away!!! Phyllis C.
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Phyllis – who could have known? I guess that’s why some people become hoarders – there’s a market for everything!!
Ann xxo
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Oh my goodness! The 1949 card is the year I was born, and I just learned how to play in 2009. There are a lot of years in between.
Ann, you are in my prayers for strength to cope with your health challenge.
Carolyn
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I have the 1960/1961 ‘That’s It’ How to play MahJongg by Dorothy S. Meyerson. It is more of a booklet vs a card but seems to have the hands in it. If Babs needs this she is welcome to it!
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Mel – thank you so much! I will let Babs know about your generous offer!
Ann
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Mel,
Oooh, sounds amazing! Thanks for the offer! I would love to add it to the collection. Ann can send you my email or you can allow her to forward your email to me, and I will get you my contact info. thanks for your generous offer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
babs
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I have 65-66 and 66-67. A friend laminated copies for a gift one year I’m positive she gave me one more and will look for it. She is on vacation right now but I think she kept even more of her Mom’s cards.
Kathy Sollenberger
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Kathy – thank you so much! I will have Babs contact you. Thank you for your kind offer!
Ann
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Kathy,
I am in need of 1966-67 card. I already own the 1965 card. Let me know what other years you might be able to get your hands on. Hopefully Ann can forward you my email address and if you are willing to mail it to me, I will mail it back once I have gotten the info I need. (or allow Ann to email me your email address and we can chat privately)
babs
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This does sound very interesting. I have 1957 that I would be glad to,share but I’m just curious about the ‘do not copy’ issue?
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Hi Donna – I wonder about the “do not copy” issue although I really think – strictly speaking – that it is probably about the current year’s card; the League wants people to buy it, not duplicate it for other people to use. I think this project sounds so interesting and I will let Babs know about your card from 1957.
Ann xxo
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Donna,
I would be most grateful if you could “share” the card with me. There is a “fair use” clause in copywritten material that allows limited personal copying for illustration or commentary, etc. I am not looking to remarket , resell, or redistribute the cards. i am working on cataloging all the previous years and analyzing the progression of the hands from the 30’s forward. only current cards are sold by the NMJL. That being said, if you are willing to share it with me via mail, I will mail it back to you in the pristine condition it arrives in. Ann can share my email with you, or you can allow her to forward yours to me and we can make arrangements..
thanks for replying!
babs
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I have a number of older cards that I can share. Will send pics nextt week .
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Boots – we can always count on you for your generosity – I will let Babs know. Thanks so much!
Ann xxo
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Check with Tom Sloper on his website. He actually has a chart of how the use of Flowers and Jokers has changed over the years.
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Hi Gladys – GREAT suggestion! Leave it to you to come up with a great idea!!! I will let Babs know.
Ann xxo
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Thanks Gladys!. Yes, I have relied on Tom’s site for lots of information previously. That’s how I came up with this project. That chart of flowers and jokers sparked this crazy undertaking.
babs
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Hi there, I am a Mah Jongg teacher from the Milwaukee area who discovered your wonderful blog about a year ago. Just like Babs, I too have been fascinated by the changes in NMJL cards over the years and have a collection that includes 12 from the years she is looking for. I can give her the ones that I have duplicates of and loan her the other ones for a month or so if you “connect” us. If any your readers live in the Milwaukee area and happen to see my license plate tell them to say “Hi!” Janet Fine ð Mah Jongg and Me posted: “I received an email from Babs, a good friend of this blog. Babs is working on a very interesting and novel project. As she wrote, “I am looking for older Mah Jongg cards. I am trying to make a complete image collection of all cards from the first year th”
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Hi Janet – thank you for this lovely message. So glad you are enjoying the blog! Send pictures of some of your classes and I will post them!
I will make sure that Babs sees your generous offer and gets in touch with you. Thank you again! And I will make sure to tell all those Mah Jongg players in the Milwaukee area to say hi – tell me what your license plate says so I can pass the word!!
Ann xxo
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Unbelievable! 12 of them!! Woohoo!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yes, I would love to “connect” with you and work out the details. Ann can swap email info for me or she can send me yours…..thanks for your generosity!
babs
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Hi Ann, I have 2001, 2000, 1978-79, 1977-78, 1975-76, 1970-71, 1968-69, 1967-68, 1962-63 AND 1950 Please let me know if she needs me to scan them and send to her. It would be my pleasure.
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Oh Jan – you are the best!!! I will let Babs know – so generous and kind of you!!
Ann xxo
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Jan,
Oh my gosh! Amazing! I need all of these years! If you would be generous enough to mail them to me so I can get the information the way I need it, I will absolutely send them back to you in the pristine condition you have them in. Ann can send you my email or you can allow her to send me yours and we can make arrangements….thanks for reaching out!!!!!!!
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I have 1949 and 1945 if you still need those years and would love to see the finished product!
Beth
>
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Beth – thank you so much! Hopefully Babs is reading all of these comments and will be getting in touch with you and the others.
Ann xxo
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Beth,
Wow! talk about dedication! I cannot believe you have cards in your possession that old!!!! They are soooo hard to find. The copies I have gotten from those years, from old photographs, have been sooo difficult to read, to actually find someone who has the cards….amazing!!!
It would be super if you would be willing to mail me the cards so I can get the info off of them that I need and I will send them back promptly to you exactly as they arrive to me. Ann can send you my contact info, or you can allow Ann to send me yours and we can chat further about it.
thanks for your generous offer to help me with this project.
babs
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Ann, if your friend ever manages to collect all the NML cards I do hope she publishers a book with them. Please advise if this ever eventuates In Australia we use different rules and games, but I am very interested in learning the American game. I have purchased Tom Sloper’s and Elaine Sandberg’s books. .
Mah-Jongg enthusiast from Down Under
Judith ..
On 20 June 2015 at 21:03, Mah Jongg and Me wrote:
> Mah Jongg and Me posted: “I received an email from Babs, a good > friend of this blog. Babs is working on a very interesting and novel > project. As she wrote, “I am looking for older Mah Jongg cards. I am > trying to make a complete image collection of all cards from the first year > th”
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Ann, I should have mentioned that I also own your book “Mah Jongg The Art Of The Game” which is fantastic.
Mah-Jongg enthusiastic from Down Under
Judith
On 20 June 2015 at 21:03, Mah Jongg and Me wrote:
> Mah Jongg and Me posted: “I received an email from Babs, a good > friend of this blog. Babs is working on a very interesting and novel > project. As she wrote, “I am looking for older Mah Jongg cards. I am > trying to make a complete image collection of all cards from the first year > th”
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Hi Judith – thank you so much for your very kind words! If you ever get to this side of the world, please let me know!!
Best,
Ann
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I belong to a Vintage Group and we play with the old cards. I have created a chart that shows the major rule changes from 1937 (first year) to today. It addresses number of jokers/flowers, how/if Charleston is played, whether you can retrieve jokers, etc. I would be happy to share it with her if you can put me in touch with her.
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I will definitely let Babs know about this. If you are interested in sharing it with this blog, I would love to post your chart! Let me know. I love the idea that your group plays with the old cards!!
Best,
Ann
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Hi Ann – Yes, I would be willing to share the chart, but with the caveat that everyone understands that I am an amateur who took on the project for my group. It is a summary of the rules as our group did its best to interpret them. there’s probably nuances that we missed, but it would help a group get started if they wanted to play with the old cards. Perhaps it would be best if I send a copy of the chart to you so that you can review it first? How would I go about doing that?
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Ann, I heard back from Barb and she is interested in the doc I have. Would you please forward my email address to her so she can contact me directly? Also, please let me know how to send it to you so you can post on the blog. Sorry I’m slow on the tech side, need some instruction please!
Karen
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Karen! Karen! Karen!
What a great resource! YES, if you would be kind enough to share any of this with me I would be most appreciative!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I also have a group of friends with which I have tried to play some of the vintage cards that I own, but its like the blind leading the blind. We have been guessing how this all worked back then. We have tried finding women who are in their 90’s that played back in the 40’s, but most can’t remember the proper way anymore (lol)….. We can swap emails through Ann and take it from there. ( Where have you been for the last 10 years that i have been working on this?)glad you are reaching out!!!!
babs
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Great! I will ask Ann to forward my email address to you. You will love playing with them. My Vintage group meets about once a month. We play 3 different cards (once around the table with each one so everyone gets a chance to be East with each card). We pick ones where the rules are really different, but close out the day with a card that is modern rules, but old hands, so our brains get a rest!
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Hi Babs –
Ann included you an email to me so that you would have my address. Please drop me a note so I can get this doc to you and talk about your project.
Karen
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i have the 1959 card. My friend put together a beautiful gift for a few of us. I’ll try to post a picture but I can get you images of the card
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Judy,
Missing that year from the collection…..perhaps Ann can swap or emails so we can make arrangements to add that card to the project…..thanks for reaching out!
babs
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My girlfriend Bonnie made this for me and a few others. Isn’t is fabulous
On Saturday, June 20, 2015, Mah Jongg and Me wrote:
> Mah Jongg and Me posted: “I received an email from Babs, a good > friend of this blog. Babs is working on a very interesting and novel > project. As she wrote, “I am looking for older Mah Jongg cards. I am > trying to make a complete image collection of all cards from the first year > th”
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Babes, just sent Ann email with photo of front and back of 2001. I might have the 1998,99, and 2000 also.
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