Royal Playing Cards, 1890s

Published May 31, 2010 Updated May 31, 2022

Royal Playing Cards, 1890s

1890 USA New York Consolidated Card Co Royal Royalty

A special pack showing historical European figures manufactured by The New York Consolidated Card Company in the mid-1890s.

Above: magnificently illuminated "Royal Playing Cards" published in the mid-1890s by The New York Consolidated Card Company to commemorate the Triple Alliance of Germany, Austria and Russia (subsequently replaced by Italy). The suits depict personages from Germany (clubs), Austria (diamonds), Italy (hearts) and Russia (spades).

This Ace of Spades and the Gold Medal Joker were first issued c.1880 and subsequently used in "Squeezer" decks.

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By Simon Wintle

Member since February 01, 1996

Founder and editor of the World of Playing Cards since 1996. He is a former committee member of the IPCS and was graphics editor of The Playing-Card journal for many years. He has lived at various times in Chile, England and Wales and is currently living in Extremadura, Spain. Simon's first limited edition pack of playing cards was a replica of a seventeenth century traditional English pack, which he produced from woodblocks and stencils.

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