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

Well, finally was able to get my hands on a set of the WWII miniature KEMs, date code C1041, with a well-worn leather pouch. Also stumbled across a variant of the 1943 cardboard KEM box - a 1942 cardboard box with just the elongated KEM logo with no crown. Has a pristine set of Gamecock decks, date code C342. Enjoy.

Harder and harder to find old KEM cards that I don't yet have, but here are a couple.

A double set of Gold Band cards in the original box. First time I've ever seen the blue deck of these. The Gold Band deck was only made in 1935, and was one of the original 4 KEM designs. Just love that clean Ace of Spades with just "KEM Playing Cards".
And a set of the 1939 New York World's Fair cards from KEM. The cards are stuck together and in terrible shape, but I'd never seen the case with the 1939 World's Fair emblem still intact.

Wow, I've been collecting World's Fair decks and I haven't seen these before!

Here are some non-KEMs from my collection. This box set of WWII Hamilton's c1945 just arrived.

Old school. Capitol No. 188, Panel back and Music back. Look great for 1898 (ish)

and some more not quite as old

Extra Congress Frog Back

Thanks to Jock1971 for help in identifying these decks.

American Playing Card Company, c1900 There is a joker with the same design on the ace of spades in Hochman's (L72)

Here' the joker from Hochman's. (L72)

Chuqii wrote:Thanks to Jock1971 for help in identifying these decks.

for what little i did...i`m glad to help out.

Thats a nice frog back on those extra congress

Got my first pre-1950 Bicycle tucks and cards recently.

... and some more antiques

American PCC Golf deck American PCC Steamboat? deck National Card Co Apollo deck, Music back

Trophy Whist No. 39 Arabian back with the new courts c. 1895

Canary cards from NYCCC in a neat faux book case with mini-poker chips, c 1910. Spine of the "book" reads "History of Four Queens"

Great posts Chuqii

Do you know if the different size indices on the A.P.C.C decks are indication of age or did they use different sizes simultaneously.
i see you don`t show tucks for some of your decks . do you have them or do you not mind if the decks don`t have them?

Not sure on the size of the indices. The Steamboat? deck was a cheaper deck with lower quality printing, so that might account for it.

Trust me, if I had the tuck (or the joker), I'd post it. But no tuck / no joker is ok for me.

These just came in.

Perfection Playing Card Co. - New York - 1890s - Cool back design with the integrated fish hooks and scales. Check out company name on the boat

USPC Skat No.2 deck with tuck

This is my first no index deck. Awfully nice. Don't know if the box is original to the deck or not. Also, anyone know what the "BC" or "CB" stands for on the cards? Back of tuck says these were "Manufactured Expressly for CLUBS", so maybe a club name? Anyway, enjoy.

Now ...those are some sweet decks you got there Chuqii
The Skat deck is cool, i have the Gaigel version with the same back design but no tuck

But that pre indicator deck is something else..nice find
I`m not a big American deck collector ....but that is one pack i`d love to have in my collection
i don`t know about the back i`m afraid, but the tuck box is original to the deck.

A few new decks for the collection, two from NYCCC and one export from American Playing Card Co.

First off, a set of NYCCC Gem No. 53 with Angel Back Next, a red and blue deck of Freelance 915 with Back Nos. 289 and 286
Finally, Salmon & Gluckstein London Tabacconists deck

Few more to add to the collection:

From Russell Playing Card Co. - Battle Axe, Blue Ribbon Meadow back and Russell's Finest Club Quality

and From NYCCC - a Triton deck - Enjoy!

New ad to the collecion - Russel & Morgan Printing Co. Tourists with a neat back and joker. Anyone know the name for the back?

Wonderful additions to your collection Chuqii.
You must either have a good size budget for cards, or you're very lucky.

I don't have a specific name for the Russel & Morgan back. Though I do know those most often came with a design rather than an illustrated picture.

Also don't know what CB stands for on your Dougherty, though that monogram is familiar. Perhaps you can research clubs in New York before 1890. The word "Manufacturer" was removed from his A of S around then and this ace still has it.

Little of both, luck and cash, though I figure I save a lot by not doing much on Kickstarter or collecting modern decks. It is amazing how relatively cheap vintage and antique decks are compared to some of the newer decks. For instance, I found the Rambler fortune teller deck for less than $15, and it is likely unique. That is worth more to me than a $15 new deck.

So, here are a few more - Dougherty Stearmboat NO. 0USPCC Steamboat 999 and a partial National Card co. Rambler deck that someone made into a fortune telling deck. I really dig the train back on these. Enjoy!

This just in. USPC Canteen No 515, created for the Spanish-American War around 1898 (per Hochman). Anyone know what the joker looks like for this deck? Hochman doesn't have one, and neither does WWPCM.Enjoy!

Still trying to work out best way to sort and display, but here are some of my 100+ year old decks as set up in the hutch of a 1930s secretary desk in my office. Click to zoom. Enjoy.

Great Display Chuqii
Spotted the Outing deck (top left) Is that a new find ?
Very cool

Good eye. The Outing deck is not new, but I've never gotten around to positing it. Here's a pic:

I see you have a clean rambler ace to go with your fortune teller. I've always liked the design of that ace.

Also like the backs on the Steamboat 999 - they remind me a bit of Gemaco Gem backs, but more of this Wilkinson prototype deck I have. The Wilkinson cards were never actually put into production. That design also reminds me of the backs on my double deck of Copag plastic playing cards. Are you collecting all the old plastic playing card makers?

I hope you don't mind the images? I tried to make them small.

I love the green of the Outing deck backs. I find it funny that the decks about killing things always show beautiful live prey. If they can appreciate the beauty of that life how can they stand to shoot it?