Globe Card Company
“Globe Playing Cards” patented on Oct. 6, 1874 by I. N. Richardson.
In 1874 I. N. Richardson patented a deck of round, or circular, playing cards which was produced at 68 Cornhill Street, Boston, Mass. In c. 1875 the firm was taken over by I. W. Richardson, the son of I. N. Richardson. The Son’s name replaced that of the father on the Ace of Spades. In c.1878 the firm’s name was changed to Globe Card Co. which name was used on the Ace of Spades, replacing that of the son, I. W. Richardson. In c.1880 the firm moved to larger premises at 78 Hawley Street, Boston, Mass and continued to produce the same deck, changing the address on the Ace of Spades accordingly. All the Aces of Spades carried the patent date of Oct. 6, 1874 by I. N. Richardson►
Above: “Globe Playing Cards” published by the Globe Card Co., 78 Hawley Street, Boston, Mass c.1880. The box has the remains of a five cents tax stamp. Images courtesy Tammy & Larry Northup.
By Simon Wintle
Member since February 01, 1996
I am the founder of The World of Playing Cards (est. 1996), a website dedicated to the history, artistry and cultural significance of playing cards and tarot. Over the years I have researched various areas of the subject, acquired and traded collections and contributed as a committee member of the IPCS and graphics editor of The Playing-Card journal. Having lived in Chile, England, Wales, and now Spain, these experiences have shaped my work and passion for playing cards. Amongst my achievements is producing a limited-edition replica of a 17th-century English pack using woodblocks and stencils—a labour of love. Today, the World of Playing Cards is a global collaborative project, with my son Adam serving as the technical driving force behind its development. His innovative efforts have helped shape the site into the thriving hub it is today. You are warmly invited to become a contributor and share your enthusiasm.
Related Articles
Get Decked
Black and white cartoons devised by Sam Wagner with help from artist Lindsay Bevington.
Beowulf
Jackson Robinson's Beowulf playing card deck inspired by the Old English pagan poem.
Keith Haring playing cards
Energetic graffiti images by the American artist Keith Haring.
The Tarot of Meditation – Yeager Tarot
Marty Yeager’s original Tarot of Meditation from 1975, republished later by U.S. Games Systems, Inc....
Adobe Deck
The first digitally-produced deck of cards.
Seminole Wars deck
Seminole Wars deck by J. Y. Humphreys, Philadelphia, c.1819.
The UCR Deck
Giant-size cards designed by Thomas Sanders to advertise courses and facilities at UCR.
Fredericks & Mae playing cards
A rainbow pack from the design team of Fredericks & Mae and Benjamin English.
Red Hat Society playing cards
Society that encourages women in their quest to get the most out of life.
Mountain Dream Tarot
Groundbreaking Tarot created by Bea Nettles, using photographs and photo montage.
Junior Playing Cards
Child-friendly versions of standard English pattern cards designed by Louie Mantia, Jr.
Last Call Cats playing cards
Bar-crawling cats, designed by artists Arna Miller and Ravi Zupa.
Covered bridges playing cards
Historical covered bridges with photography by Bill Miller, 2006.
Motherpeace Round Tarot
An original and imaginative feminist tarot invoking matriarchal Goddess energy.
Victorian playing cards
54 different card designs including people, animals, flowers, costumes and ornaments popular during ...
Crown Hill playing cards
Crown Hill playing cards with illustrations by Corrine Guiney, USA,
Most Popular
Our top articles from the past 28 days
