UnitedCardists.com - The forum for Cardistry, Magic, Custom Decks and All Things Playing Cards.

(I've been posting a deck a day, so be sure and scroll back a page if you haven't been here in a few days.)

c 1898 US22 Mystic #888 - Knights of Pythias - Part of the Mystic Playing Card series. The F C and B stand for Friendship, Charity and Benevolence.

Love that back design!

Here's a Tuesday Twofer - two decks from Perfection Playing Card Co, the bottom row being a Steamboat-level deck with the Philadelphia Ace of Spades c1887, and the upper row with the New York Ace of Spades c1890. The c1890 deck has a turned Queen, more refined courts, and a much better finish.

Here's a modern Bicycle Rider back deck that I came across in some research. I'm trying to determine when Bicycle decks first incorporated the registered trademark symbol ( ® ) on the tuck box. Not quite nailed down yet, but seems to be around 1990. Anyway, this deck has an interesting color scheme. Thought it might be a one-off, but I have a red deck with same tuck, same inserts, and same color scheme. So, mis-print or intentional use of purple on the court cards? Oh, and the coupon that came with this deck has an expiration date of December 31, 1992
And here's a Jumbo Index deck with the same purple color. Deck Ace code is Q2202, so should be around 1991, 1992 as well. Must have been something in the printing press around 1992.
And here's an image of a Bee Centennial Edition 1882 - 1992 I borrowed from WorthPoint with the same purple colors on the cards. Maybe this was why the other cards around that time have the purple?

Huh. Going to have to keep my eyes out for that now.

The Queen of Spades in the 1890 Perfection deck above looks like she went three rounds with Muhammad Ali.

Here's something a little different, a poker deck with Spanish suits of Clubs, Swords, Coins and Cups. This is a Heraclio Fournier 20 deck with 52 cards and 2 jokers. I'm guessing vintage, but I have no idea on the age.

And back to the antique cards
c1895 National Card Co. American Whist League deck with a really nice, elaborate Ace of Spades.

And two new addition to my Pyramid family
c1925 Pyramid Special from Pyramid Playing Card Co, Brooklyn, NY and
c1925 Yankee Club two deck set, bridge size

American Premiers Playing Cards from American Playing Card Co, c1890. Though a little beat up now, this was the top of the line for American Playing Card Co. back in the day.

Gaigel deck from USPCC c1895 with Wurttemberg pattern. German suits of Leaves, Acorns, Hearts and Bells.

Wow - great cards!

Love the German suits

You sure that isn't an Irish deck?

Let's follow-up the German pattern with a c1920 Spanish pattern deck - suits of Coins, Swords, Cups and (actual) Clubs. Deck is 1-7 then 10-12 in each suit. Deck is from Fabricantes de Naipes de España, S.A. in Barcelona.

Bradius wrote: ↑Thu Mar 10, 2022 11:04 pm You sure that isn't an Irish deck?

Well, both are American actually since, USPCC but yah, the pattern is German.
Hints:
• black, white, red (on the shields on the AoH or flags AoB) are the colours of the then German Empire
• Ober is a German rank
• Skat and Gaigel are German card game names
• AoA says in German "Vereinigte Staaten Spiel Karten" (which should be Spielkarten).

c1890 Indicator deck from Andrew Dougherty

So above I posted a Gaigel deck from USPCC c 1895. I just got another one of these decks in and it has "Gaigel" written on the Ace of Spades, whereas the deck above has "Skat". Skat is another German game, and USPCC issued a Skat deck in this style also. So my Gaigel deck above may have been assembled from two Skat decks (the Skat deck is Ace - 6 in each suit). So, below is my new Gaigel deck, and a pic of the Skat deck that I have. And thanks to Harvonsgard for added info.

c1895 NYCCC Squeezers deck. I love this Ace of Spades and I really wish I knew what the "PC" (at least I think it is "PC") monogram stood for.

From South of the Border comes this vintage Clenente Jacques y Cia, Mexico City, American Poker deck with a slightly menacing harlequin joker

C1915 USPCC 515 Picket deck with Fort back design

Back to the antique, foreign decks. c1890 from B.P. Grimaud, Paris using the Belgian-Genoese pattern which originated around 1860.

Here is a brand from USPCC that I'd never seen before - Lark. Uses the card back from Russell Battle Axe and an unbranded Ace of Spades, but tuck includes USPCC and Air-Cushion Finish. 10 cent tax stamp and date code of Y dates these to 1938.

I decided to add a 1938 Battle Axe deck to show the comparison. The Battle Axe tuck is branded Russell Playing Card Co but with a USPCC tax stamp. I imagine the same joker would have been used in both decks.

Here's an antique 86 Bicycle Bridge deck from Russell & Morgan Factories. Square 10 cent tax stamp and the 1926 Auction Bridge card put this deck between 1926 and 1929. I like these tuck boxes with the image of the card back ( Lace ) inset smaller on the box.

Still one of my favorite jokers.

Estate sale find. 1954 ("T" date code and two-digit zip on extra card) USPCC Steamboat. Has a smooth finish.

Chuqii wrote: ↑Tue Mar 29, 2022 12:02 pm 1954 USPCC Steamboat

Estate sale find. 1954 ("T" date code and two-digit zip on extra card) USPCC Steamboat. Has a smooth finish.

Nice timeless back design, wouldn't look out of place today

c1906, still precariously wrapped deck of US Card Dominoes, Large Size, Gold Edges, from USPCC

It's Ephemera Friday here at Chuqii's cards.

Here's a handy instructional card from New York Consolidated Card Co. Made to be folded in half to form a little booklet. Front and back:







and the Rules were on the inside






Timeless.

Hilarious!