Archives
2010 • June
Casinos On The Internet
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by Simon Wintle
While card rooms and private gaming clubs may have been around for hundreds of years, the earliest known European casino of the type gamblers know today is probably the Casino at Monte Carlo.
Naipes ‘Baccarat’
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by Simon Wintle
An example of the typical version of the Spanish Catalan pattern which is widely used in South American countries, especially Argentina, Chile and Uruguay.
Cartográfica Industrial, Curitiba, Brazil
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by Simon Wintle
Double advertising pack made by Cartográfica Industrial for Refrigeração Parana S.A. The extra card contains an insignia with the legend 'CARTAL'.
Vale Tudo - Cartas para Jogar
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by Simon Wintle
Vale Tudo - Cartas para Jogar, manufactured in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The courts are standard English pattern with prominent indices, printed in red and black only.
Western PCC
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by Simon Wintle
The Western Playing Card Company was formed in 1927. The exact history and origins are not clear.
Congress No.606
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by Simon Wintle
Congress Playing Cards were first produced by the Russell & Morgan Company in 1881 as the finest and most expensive of their brands.
Bicycle No.808 - page 2
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by Simon Wintle
The famous 'Bicycle' playing cards were first introduced by Russell & Morgan Printing Co in 1885. They were hugely successful and became the most well-known brand in the world.
Bicycle Seconds
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by Simon Wintle
Bicycle 808 Seconds playing cards manufactured by The United States Playing Card Co, Cincinnati and New York, USA, with offices also in Windsor, Canada and London, England.
Illuminated Playing Cards, c.1865
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by Simon Wintle
Facsimile edition of Andrew Dougherty's Illuminated deck, c.1865, published by U.S. Games Systems, Inc., and described as 'Civil War Illuminated Poker Deck'
Anonymous Novelty Cards
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by Simon Wintle
Miniature novelty playing cards from the late 1940s or early 1950s with a charm of their own. Probably published as small prizes at fairground or seaside amusement arcades.
Bicycle No.808
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by Simon Wintle
The famous Bicycle playing cards were first introduced by Russell & Morgan Printing Co in 1885. More recently the brand has been open to private designers since the early 2000s.
Jumbo Bridge 88
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by Simon Wintle
Cards with jumbo indices were introduced in 1895, and were given the subtitle '88'.
Standard Genoese
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by Simon Wintle
Van Genechten manufactured playing cards in various styles, including specially customised versions for commercial clients wishing to advertise their own brands on the cards.
Bongoût
One of the outstanding and most popular packs made by the Turnhout cardmakers was the Bongoût type. Special scenic Aces could be added to packs according to the client’s preferences.
Mesmaekers & Moentack, c.1860
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by Simon Wintle
The Mesmaekers firm had been established in Turnhout in 1859 by the partnership of Gustaaf Mesmaekers and Louis-François Moentack.
Brotherton, 1789-1840
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by Simon Wintle
Brotherton is recorded as operating at 13 Little Britain (London) from 1789-1840. In 1851 his factory was burnt down.
Alphonse Arnoult
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by Simon Wintle
Finely engraved deck by Alphonse Arnoult (Paris), c.1860. 52 cards.
Historic Boston and Vicinity
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by Simon Wintle
Historic Boston and Vicinity Souvenir Playing Cards, 1900 & 1909.
The United States Playing Card Company
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by Simon Wintle
Over the years the pressures of competition and other market forces have led to many smaller manufacturers being taken over by larger ones. The outcome is that the U.S.P.C.C. is now the largest manufacturer in the United States.
Hardy
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by Simon Wintle
The Hardy family of playing card manufacturers began with Henry Hardy (1784-89) and continued through to Hardy & Sons who finally closed down in c.1840.
National Card Co.
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by Simon Wintle
The National Card Co. was formed in c.1886 by Samuel J Murray, who as a young man had worked in England in Charles Goodall's playing card factory.