Grover Cleveland Presidential Campaign of 1888
Grover Cleveland Presidential Campaign playing cards of 1888, USA, [reprint 1980].
This is a reproduction of a pack originally issued in 1888 in support of Grover Cleveland who was already serving as the 22nd President of the United States (1885-1889), and was part of his campaign to be re-elected. Although he was unsuccessful, he did return to office in 1892 as the 24th President (1893-1897). The reproduction was produced by U.S. Games Systems Inc., New York in 1980. (There is some speculation that this pack was not originally produced for Cleveland's 1888 campaign but rather for his later campaign in 1892).
Cleveland is portrayed on the Kings; his running mate Allen G. Thurman on the Jacks; and Frances Folsom on the Queen. She married Cleveland at the age of 21, was the youngest First Lady, and also the only First lady to have served the role during two non-consecutive terms. Cleveland is the only President to have been married in the White House.
Original cards, 1888
Above: original specimen of 1888 Grover Cleveland Presidential Campaign Playing Cards, Potter & Potter auction March 2019 Lot 344. Original cards can also be viewed on the National Museum of American History website here►
Reproduction, 1980
Above: reproduction of 1888 Grover Cleveland Presidential Campaign Playing Cards produced by U.S. Games Systems Inc., New York in 1980. See the box►
The White House: Grover Cleveland►
By Peter Burnett
Member since July 27, 2022
I graduated in Russian and East European Studies from Birmingham University in 1969. It was as an undergraduate in Moscow in 1968 that I stumbled upon my first 3 packs of “unusual” playing cards which fired my curiosity and thence my life-long interest. I began researching and collecting cards in the early 1970s, since when I’ve acquired over 3,330 packs of non-standard cards, mainly from North America, UK and Western Europe, and of course from Russia and the former communist countries.
Following my retirement from the Bodleian Library in Dec. 2007 I took up a new role as Head of Library Development at the International Network for the Availability of Scientific Publications (INASP) to support library development in low-income countries. This work necessitated regular training visits to many sub-Saharan African countries and also further afield, to Vietnam, Nepal and Bangladesh – all of which provided rich opportunities to further expand my playing card collection.
Since 2019 I’ve been working part-time in the Bodleian Library where I’ve been cataloguing the bequest of the late Donald Welsh, founder of the English Playing Card Society.
Related Articles
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.
Verkeers Kwartet
A helpful quartet game celebrating the 75th anniversary of road safety exams making traffic safer.
Red Hat Society playing cards
Society that encourages women in their quest to get the most out of life.
Pam is the Knave of Clubs
Playing cards as metaphors in 18th century art - from fate, chance and social hierarchy t...
Dr Sacheverell
Dr. Henry Sacheverell's impeachment in 1710 sparked widespread public unrest and political upheaval,...
Cartes politiques : Jeu d'actualité
Political playing cards published by Grimaud et Chartier, Paris, 1872.
Politiker-Skat by Bubec
Caricatures of world leaders, including many German politicians, by the artist Bubec.
Le Poker Politique
French politicians and various world leaders caricatured by the German artist Bubec.
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.
La Baraja del Mundial
“La Baraja del Mundial” satirical football deck published by Fournier for ‘Interviú’ news magazine. ...
Covered bridges playing cards
Historical covered bridges with photography by Bill Miller, 2006.
Motherpeace Round Tarot
An original and imaginative feminist tarot based on Goddess energy.
Victorian playing cards
54 different card designs including people, animals, flowers, costumes and ornaments popular during ...
Trending Articles
Popular articles from the past 28 days
