Abstract: A playing card holder comprises a substantially pentagonal backing plate having fixed thereto a locator block and a transparent view plate. The locator block has first and second stepped edges converging upwardly from the bottom edge of the backing plate. Each of the stepped edges includes a plurality of steps each having a horizontal locator surface. The view plate is parallel to and spaced apart from the backing plate to define a card-holding slot therebetween. The view plate has inclined top and bottom edges parallel to the top edges of the pentagonal backing plate. A plurality of deformable filaments, preferably carpet pile, are afixed to the backing plate and extend across the card-holding slot onto abutment with the view plate. The filaments deflect when a playing card is inserted in the card-holding slot and hold the inserted card against the view plate. A base is provided supporting the card holder in an upright position.

Abstract: A playing card holder comprises a substantially pentagonal backing plate with a plurality of pinching members mounted thereon in a preselected arrangement. Each of the pinching members includes a pinch block fastened to the backing plate and a spacer disposed between the pinch block and the backing plate so that a card-gripping surface of the pinch block is spaced from the backing plate by a preselected clearance less than the thickness of a playing card. A playing card inserted in the space between the backing plate and the card-gripping surface of the pinch block is frictionally gripped therein. In an alternative embodiment, each pinching member includes a leaf spring having a card-gripping surface normally contacting the backing plate. The leaf spring elastically deforms when a playing card is inserted between the card-gripping surface and the backing plate.