[kem-collector] Kem Playing Cards

[kem-collector]

For displaying, I keep one set of each Kem style in a glass-faced display case. I also keep some more special Kems in their original luxury cases on one of the shelves, but all of them are displayed face out in the glass cases. All the wooden boxes you see on the lower shelves are other casino-quality plastic/acetate playing cards made by Bicycle, Cartamundi, Copag, Da Vinci, Dal Negro, Fournier, Gemaco and Modiano.

[hsbc]

Wow that is an A+ setup

[Harvonsgard]

Lol. All my decks are currently still in my cupboard. I wish I had space for a setup like this. Really nice!
On the plus side for me, I don't have to worry about dust on the decks, saves a lot of cleaning time.

[Chuqii]

Thanks for posting all of these in one place.

[kem-collector]

Was able to cross off another Kem deck from the missing list. May I present - Giardino, red and blue.

giardino.jpg (157.98 KiB) Viewed 8389 times

[saulriffel]

That's impressive! I don't really know much about Kem playing cards, but it looks like you have the entire catalog, so many nice designs. I have a set of the Harvest, the grandmother of a friend of mine was moving and was getting rid of a lot of things so i took one pair.
Great collection! Kem playing cards look fancy even with the simplest design

[kem-collector]

Kem was the first mass produced 100% plastic (cellulose acetate) playing card, which is how they became so very popular in the mid 30's and onward. Kem was purchased by USPCC in 2004 and USPCC started production back up in 2006 (although with a lower quality if you ask me). Not many new designs come out nowadays and plastic cards get a bad rap for not being that well suited for magic, flourishing, cardists tricks...but if you actually plan to play with cards, they are the best to use IMHO.

And yes, I agree - the classical designs are very appealing. Harvest is one that a lot of people have, especially in the US. It reminds them of Thanksgiving, with the large cornucopia on the back of the card.

[saulriffel]

It reminds them of Thanksgiving, with the large cornucopia on the back of the card.

That's very interesting. Since we don't have thanksgiving around here, that's something i would never realize by myself. And about them being the best to use, that was the first thing i heard when i started collecting in 2008!

[kem-collector]

Today was a good day. 5 new vintage backs added to the collection, although some are in very rough condition.

1939 World's Fair (Trylon & Perisphere) Red and Green. The Trylon and Perisphere were the theme of the 1939 New York World's Fair - "The World of Tomorrow". These cards have bled pretty badly and are not usable, but they are hard to find. Notice there is no date code on the Ace of Spades, other than an "A" directly below. I'll have to find out what this means (or wait for Chuqii to tell us!).

[kem-collector]

This deck is named Starlight (green and burgundy). The date code of C89 puts this deck as being printed August of 1939. I included the Ace of Diamonds and Clubs as these old decks apparently had the Kem logo printed on them, instead of just the Ace of Spades like is done now. I suspect this practice was stopped to save on ink and equipment wear. They are also not in a playable condition.

[kem-collector]

This deck is the "Brown & Bigalow" deck. I find this one interesting since the Ace of Spades has no date code and it also makes reference to Brown & Bigalow, as well as a location - St. Paul, Minnesota. Included is a picture of the "Ad card" which describes how to care for your Kem cards. It also has Brown & Bigelow at the bottom.

Additionally, this deck is still wrapped (loosely) in its original cellophane with the decaying remains of its original tax stamp. I was able to remove the deck from the cello and it feels and handles better than a brand new deck from today.

[kem-collector]

This deck is named Stratosphere - Red. It also comes in a Blue and a Green. The date code puts this deck being made in January of 1940.

[kem-collector]

This deck is named Yacht Club - Yellow and Red. The date code places this deck being made August of 1939. It also sports the Kem log on three of the Aces. Both of these decks are in wonderful condition and could be played today with no issues.

[hsbc]

"Drop the soaped card in cold water"

[kem-collector]

"Drop the soaped card in cold water"

Well, they are 100% plastic after all. Your only real concern is scrubbing off the ink printed on the cards. Being able to wash cards for the first time and have them last so long is what put Kem on the map!

[Harvonsgard]

"Drop the soaped card in cold water"

If you are scared by that look at Lee Asher's guide of cleaning his Fournier 605 - which aren't plastic cards, but somehow can resist water (he dips them into a glas of water = instant death for Bikes) to a certain degree as well.

[kem-collector]

I had to move some things around since the non-Kem cards were kind of taking over. Here is the new Kem displays.

[kem-collector]

I always forget that I have these, as they are a bit of a cross-over. The decks are already part of the collection as plain playing cards, but these come packaged in a different way. I have only seen this one set and I purchased it about 5 years ago. The cards inside this Cribbage set are dated from 1977, so I would place the game at around that time frame.

[kaygee68]

The design you couldn’t identify is called Normandy.

[Cards-NJ]

Hey KEM-Collector.

We've chatted online today and I joined here. I have some decks you are missing. Our stories are very similar and I have some decks you are missing. I can't private message you here yet. Maybe you can PM me.

[Stud722]

I have a KEM deck that I have never seen before and cannot find on google, KEM.com, etc. It is a KEM mini deck that came in a small vinyl sleeve. The card backshave an eagle and star design. See the picture for more details. Any info on them would be greatly appreciated.

[Stud722]

Found the eagle deck on Portfolio 52!
EAGLE (WWII PILOT-ISSUED MINI DECK) BLUE [KEM]
A pilot's deck from WWII!

[kem-collector]

The design you couldn’t identify is called Normandy.

Thank you. I still cannot find any reference to that name online, but I will now be using that name for this deck until someone proves it wrong!

[kem-collector]

I have a KEM deck that I have never seen before and cannot find on google, KEM.com, etc. It is a KEM mini deck that came in a small vinyl sleeve. The card backshave an eagle and star design. See the picture for more details. Any info on them would be greatly appreciated.

That is a reprint of the WWII mini Eagles. The originals that were sent overseas came in a leather case. The red deck has a tan leather case and the blue deck has a dark black leather case. I have a double set of mini Florences that come in a vinyl case just like yours. They were made in the 80's. The date code on the original mini Eagles is C102, which corresponds to October 1942. The mini FLorence set in the vinyl case has a date code of 1183, which corresponds to November of 1983. If yours were not sealed you would most likely find an X83 code or something close to that.

[kem-collector]

Here is another Unknown Kem deck if anyone happens to know what it is called.

Unknown1.JPG (24.74 KiB) Viewed 7643 times

[Stud722]

Appreciate all of the info! I had never seen the mini deck like this. Great to have some knowledge of them. I thought they were a good pick up at an estate sale for $1. Not sure what they go for but for $1, they look nice in my collection.
Your collection of WWII era cards is pretty great by the way.

[kem-collector]

Appreciate all of the info! I had never seen the mini deck like this. Great to have some knowledge of them. I thought they were a good pick up at an estate sale for $1. Not sure what they go for but for $1, they look nice in my collection.
Your collection of WWII era cards is pretty great by the way.

Welcome and thanks. The fact that it is sealed is a huge bonus for Kem collectors. But it being the newer version is a bit of a minus. That being said, buying it for $1 is a steal as if you popped it up on eBay for $50, I would imagine it would sell immediately...might even go up to $75-$100. You don't see many of the mini eagles show up and almost all are the originals with leather case and they are roached. Yours is the first one I have ever seen sealed - I don't even know if the originals were ever sealed since they were made during wartime conditions and materials in manufacturing were restricted in many cases to wartime goods/equipment only. I know there is also a sub-set of Kem collectors that buy only original cello-sealed decks and they pay through the nose for them.

[Stud722]

Appreciate all of the info! I had never seen the mini deck like this. Great to have some knowledge of them. I thought they were a good pick up at an estate sale for $1. Not sure what they go for but for $1, they look nice in my collection.
Your collection of WWII era cards is pretty great by the way.

Welcome and thanks. The fact that it is sealed is a huge bonus for Kem collectors. But it being the newer version is a bit of a minus. That being said, buying it for $1 is a steal as if you popped it up on eBay for $50, I would imagine it would sell immediately...might even go up to $75-$100. You don't see many of the mini eagles show up and almost all are the originals with leather case and they are roached. Yours is the first one I have ever seen sealed - I don't even know if the originals were ever sealed since they were made during wartime conditions and materials in manufacturing were restricted in many cases to wartime goods/equipment only. I know there is also a sub-set of Kem collectors that buy only original cello-sealed decks and they pay through the nose for them.

That is really good to know. I plan on keeping them for now but always nice to have a rough idea of worth too. I really do appreciate all of that knowledge!

[Cards-NJ]

Does anyone know what these KEMs are? Borderless casino decks?

[Cards-NJ]

My Minis. Double-pack, WWII deck and sealed Florence.