Congress 666 Multi Playing Cards (c. 1904)

[hsbc]

The 666 "multi" deck - The Original "Frankendeck"

In 1904, The United States Playing Card Company's Congress line of cards created a unique deck featuring 53 cards of different back designs available during that time. They used a new stock number, 666, and named it "Multi". These decks were produced through the mid-1910s and they are one of (if not) the most elusive and desirable of the Congress brand.









It’s kind of like a promotional deck. Any Congress decks used for advertising purposes during this time are very hard to come by, because these were the most expensive decks made by USPCC. There are probably less than 15-20 still in existence. This is (most likely) the first version that was released (1899-1904). They made them sporadically into the early 1910s.

This is what’s written in the Hochman encyclopedia:

US6n #666 MULTI PLAYING CARDS (not pictured) USPC - RM Fact., c1904. A very unusual and rare Congress deck consisting of 53 different Congress backs. These decks, which were produced for only a relatively short time, were designed to provide potential customers with samples of Congress quality cards and for use in playing Solitaire. The Ace of Spades that comes with this deck is US6g (my deck has a 6e)
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[Harvonsgard]

I'd wish e.g. fontaine would do that, lol. So I can have one deck of them instead of ~20. Would save a lot of space.

[The Congress Guy]

This deck is an original. When looking at the gold edges the wear is consistent and not indicative of a “pieced together” deck, which theoretically could increase the value of the deck. This was verified by Judy Dawson herself (in-person), as well as two other antique collectors familiar with the deck.

[DeepCard]

sometimes, old decks make me feel comfort