Archives
2013 • February
Steamboat No.999
Owing to the romantic appeal of gambling on the Mississippi river many manufacturers added “Steamboats” to their range, differentiated by a number, such as 999.
Kalamazoo Playing Card Co
This firm commenced producing playing cards with the name Kalamazoo Paper Box & Card Co in 1903.
The Steamboat Brand
The theme of steamboats navigating up and down the Mississippi also extended to the cotton plantations alongside the river and to African American people employed therein who were sometimes depicted on the special Joker card.
Steamboats No.99
Steamboats No.99 was one of a number of brands produced by the American Playing Card Co. of Kalamazoo.
Steamboats No.66
Steamboats #66 playing cards manufactured by the Kalamazoo Paper Box & Card Co., c.1903.
Superior Steamboats No.9
This deck was of slightly superior quality than it's predecessor “National Steamboats No.9” and is enhanced by a more picturesque Ace of Spades.
Circus No.47
“Circus No.47”, first issued in 1896. The staid old Kings, Queens and Jacks have given way to various well-known ring masters, clowns and queens; dashing circus designs. Indeed, the clown Jacks are only a short step away from Jokers!
Tigers No.101
In 1881 Russell, Morgan & Company commenced playing card production by issuing six grades of cards with new, purely American names.
Löschenkohl’s Botanical Playing Cards
Löschenkohl produced a second copper engraved deck, the Botanical Playing Cards, in 1806. This deck, as well as the Musical Playing Cards, were produced shortly before Löschenkohl’s death.
Löschenkohl’s Musical Playing Cards
Johann Hieronymus Löschenkohl (1753-1807) produced a copper engraved deck of playing cards titled “Das Musikalische Kartenspiel” in 1806.
Das Kupferstichspiel des I.M.F. von 1617
Playing cards had been made as precious objects for wealthy clients since the late 14th century. They were made to look at, admire and to keep in curiosity cabinets, or perhaps to entertain ladies or educate children rather than to play with.
Jeu Louis XV
B.P. Grimaud of Paris issued this very ornate costume deck called “Jeu Louis XV No.1502” in c.1895. It has been so popular that it has been re-published on numerous occasions and is still available today in modern re-prints or facsimiles.
Tales from the Stage
"Tales from the Stage" - an article about theatrical playing cards by Rod Starling
Schweizer Luxus-Jasskarte No.41
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by Simon Wintle
The lower and upper knaves are depicted in a vibrant and lively manner, while the enthroned kings are more ponderous. The traditional Swiss Shield court cards also have beer tankards with a barrel on the Deuce.
Stage Playing Cards, 1908
This beautiful deck features an oval half-tone photo of a theatre star on each card, many of them legendary names, along with their autograph beneath.
The Stage No.65
The court cards and Aces each feature four portraits of famous theatre stars from the 1890s inside round frames, against a background pattern based on traditional court cards.
Craddock Soap Stage Souvenir
The deck is described on the box as “a portfolio of photographs of the leading lights of the stage”
Movie Souvenir Playing Cards
Special souvenir playing cards for entertainment events such as theatre or sport were an early form of merchandising. After the first edition of this deck in 1916, subsequent issues featured new photos as new stars rose to fame.
Jeu des Rois de France
This beautifully engraved and pleasing deck designed in 1856 has French Kings and consorts as the Kings and Queens, with noble attendants as the Jacks, all dressed in magnificent period costumes.
Pope Joan Trays
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by Simon Wintle
Some traditional Pope Joan boards comprise a circular tray, others are square, divided into sections labelled Ace, King, Queen, Jack, Intrigue and Matrimony. In the game, the Nine of Diamonds is “Pope Joan”.
De Luxe No.142
A wide size version of De Luxe No.142 had been published in c.1920, with a similar Ace of Spades and Joker, but which was never very popular.
Triton No.42
There have been at least three different versions of the Triton deck, with different Jokers, different styles of court cards and slight differences in the lettering on the Ace of Spades and/or Joker. The cards were advertised as “double enameled”.
Jeu de Costumes Historiques
These cards are from neatly etched plates, and are carefully coloured. The court cards present full-length figures in character costumes.
Jeu de Costumes Historiques Anglais
The courts are full-length figures of English historical personages.
French Costumes
The French taste for elegant, well engraved costume playing cards started during the early 19th century. O. Gibert of Paris produced a series of such fashion packs, or packs depicting historical characters.
Charles Bartlet
Elaborate court cards on a deck by Charles Bartlet, Philadelphia, (who was in fact Samuel Hart) c.1845-60. The pip cards are double-ended. The date may be somewhere between c.1845-65.
Bicicleta num.810
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by Simon Wintle
The United States Playing Card Co. issued Spanish versions of their flagship brand.
Tally-Ho
The earliest Ace of Spades had the Centre Street address and the Jolly Joker was used until the “Tally-Ho” Joker was introduced in the early 1900s. The brand has seen only minor variations over the years.
Indicator No.50
No.50 appears at the bottom of the Ace of Spades and the cards have corner indices and miniature suit symbols in the corners.