Panama Souvenir Playing Cards
Several editions of Panama Souvenir Playing Cards were issued by the USPCC between 1908 - 1926. The design of the cards varied between editions, and different 'fact' and map cards were also included.
![Several editions of Panama Souvenir Playing Cards were issued by the USPCC between 1908 - 1926 Several editions of Panama Souvenir Playing Cards were issued by the USPCC between 1908 - 1926](https://www.wopc.co.uk/images/countries/panama/panama-legend-1908.jpg)
![U.S. Playing Card Company letterhead, image courtesy Dean Canter U.S. Playing Card Company letterhead, image courtesy Dean Canter](https://www.wopc.co.uk/images/countries/usa/uspcc/letterhead.jpg)
![detail from Panama Canal souvenir card showing Spanish and Italian workmen laying railroad track, 1908 detail from Panama Canal souvenir card showing Spanish and Italian workmen, 1908](https://www.wopc.co.uk/images/countries/usa/panama-oval.jpg)
Above right: detail from the five of hearts from the 1908 edition (also shown below). The caption beneath the photo reads “Spanish and Italian workmen, whose superiority over the negro laborers of the Isthmus has been demonstrated”. A mile of railroad track was shifted or laid entirely each day alongside where the canal was being dug out in order to remove the earth from the canal.
Several editions of Panama Souvenir Playing Cards were issued by the USPCC between 1908 - 1926. Many specimens have survived in near perfect condition owing to the fact that they were manufactured to a high grade and sold in sturdy cardboard slipcases, and difficult to use to play with as they do not have the normal pips and court figures. The design of the cards varies between editions, and different ‘fact’ and map cards were also included. These souvenir packs provide a fascinating photographic record of their times and show how the locales and customs have changed.
Early editions of Panama Souvenir Playing Cards depict views of the canal being dug out and built by labourers from different countries or life in Panama under United States rule, inside oval frames. The actual inauguration deck was issued at completion of construction of the canal, in 1915. Later editions show U.S. Navy warships passing through the canal, such as the USS Maryland, USS Colorado, USS Pensylvania, USS California, etc., inside rectangular frames.
First edition, 1908
![Cards from the 1908 edition of Panama Souvenir Playing Cards, manufactured by the U.S. Playing Card Co., Cincinnati, U.S.A. Cards from the 1908 edition of Panama Souvenir Playing Cards, manufactured by the U.S. Playing Card Co., Cincinnati, U.S.A.](https://www.wopc.co.uk/images/countries/usa/uspcc/panama-canal-1908-4.jpg)
Above: cards from the first edition of Panama Souvenir Playing Cards, issued at the commencement of work on the canal, copyrighted 1908 by the U.S. Playing Card Co., Cincinnati, U.S.A. The monotone photographic images are displayed inside oval frames and are tinted a different colour for each suit, with a caption inside a rectangular frame beneath each image. The ‘fact’ card which accompanies the deck states that in 1908 over 41,000 men were at work on the Canal, which is 43 miles long, running north-east and south-west. The cards have gold edges and the back has a scene of a road lined with royal palm trees more →
There were further editions in 1910, 1915 and 1923►
Last edition, 1926
![Cards from the 1926 edition of Panama Souvenir Playing Cards, manufactured by the U.S. Playing Card Co., Cincinnati, U.S.A. Cards from the 1926 edition of Panama Souvenir Playing Cards, manufactured by the U.S. Playing Card Co., Cincinnati, U.S.A.](https://www.wopc.co.uk/images/countries/panama/panama-souvenir-1926.jpg)
Above: cards from the 1926 edition, with tinted photographs inside rectangular borders. The spades cards show U.S. Navy warships passing through the completed canal. 52 cards + joker + Auction Bridge score table + map card + leaflet in slipcase.
![avatar](http://www.wopc.co.uk/core/cache-wopc-thumbs/users/simonwintle/simon-4.76eb6f85.jpg)
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.
Related Articles
![Beowulf Beowulf](http://www.wopc.co.uk/core/cache-wopc-thumbs/simonwintle/13630-beowulf/images/beowulf-0.a7edc1de.jpg)
Beowulf
Jackson Robinson's Beowulf playing card deck inspired by the Old English pagan poem.
![Keith Haring playing cards Keith Haring playing cards](http://www.wopc.co.uk/core/cache-wopc-thumbs/simonwintle/13625-keith-haring-playing-cards/images/keith-haring-0.b66e67d7.jpg)
Keith Haring playing cards
Energetic graffiti images by the American artist Keith Haring.
![The Tarot of Meditation – Yeager Tarot The Tarot of Meditation – Yeager Tarot](http://www.wopc.co.uk/core/cache-wopc-thumbs/simonwintle/13598-the-tarot-of-meditation-yeager-tarot/images/yeager-tarot-1975-0.2ef5ee7d.jpg)
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 Adobe Deck](http://www.wopc.co.uk/core/cache-wopc-thumbs/simonwintle/13597-adobe-deck/images/adobe-0.7aaa8cb3.jpg)
Adobe Deck
The first digitally-produced deck of cards.
![Seminole Wars deck Seminole Wars deck](http://www.wopc.co.uk/core/cache-wopc-thumbs/simonwintle/13595-seminole-wars-deck/images/seminole-wars-0.86c14810.jpg)
Seminole Wars deck
Seminole Wars deck by J. Y. Humphreys, Philadelphia, c.1819.
![The UCR Deck The UCR Deck](http://www.wopc.co.uk/core/cache-wopc-thumbs/simonwintle/13587-the-ucr-deck/images/ucr-deck-0.bac4491c.jpg)
The UCR Deck
Giant-size cards designed by Thomas Sanders to advertise courses and facilities at UCR.
![Fredericks & Mae playing cards Fredericks & Mae playing cards](http://www.wopc.co.uk/core/cache-wopc-thumbs/simonwintle/13581-fredericks-and-mae-playing-cards/images/fredericks-mae-0.4aa12248.jpg)
Fredericks & Mae playing cards
A rainbow pack from the design team of Fredericks & Mae and Benjamin English.
![The Glasgow Pack The Glasgow Pack](http://www.wopc.co.uk/core/cache-wopc-thumbs/simonwintle/13580-the-glasgow-pack/images/glasgow-pack-0.ff4f7f40.jpg)
The Glasgow Pack
Issued to celebrate Glasgow’s reign as European City of Culture in 1990, with city views and works o...
![Baraja Turística del País Vasco Baraja Turística del País Vasco](http://www.wopc.co.uk/core/cache-wopc-thumbs/simonwintle/13571-baraja-turistica-del-pais-vasco/images/turistica-pais-vasco-0.50261824.jpg)
Baraja Turística del País Vasco
Basque poker deck of 55 cards published by Fournier with scenic views of the Basque Country.
![Red Hat Society playing cards Red Hat Society playing cards](http://www.wopc.co.uk/core/cache-wopc-thumbs/simonwintle/13567-red-hat-society-playing-cards/images/red-hat-society-0.d82938cf.jpg)
Red Hat Society playing cards
Society that encourages women in their quest to get the most out of life.
![Mountain Dream Tarot Mountain Dream Tarot](http://www.wopc.co.uk/core/cache-wopc-thumbs/simonwintle/13545-mountain-dream-tarot/images/mountain-dream-tarot-0.1fe161d8.jpg)
Mountain Dream Tarot
Groundbreaking Tarot created by Bea Nettles, using photographs and photo montage.
![English Heritage English Heritage](http://www.wopc.co.uk/core/cache-wopc-thumbs/simonwintle/13535-english-heritage/images/english-heritage-0.49c3afb5.jpg)
English Heritage
52 different colour photos of historic sites managed by English Heritage.
![Junior Playing Cards Junior Playing Cards](http://www.wopc.co.uk/core/cache-wopc-thumbs/simonwintle/13531-junior-playing-cards/images/junior-pc-00.65de8ca8.jpg)
Junior Playing Cards
Child-friendly versions of standard English pattern cards designed by Louie Mantia, Jr.
![Last Call Cats playing cards Last Call Cats playing cards](http://www.wopc.co.uk/core/cache-wopc-thumbs/simonwintle/13524-last-call-cats-playing-cards/images/last-call-cats-0.d240854b.jpg)
Last Call Cats playing cards
Bar-crawling cats, designed by artists Arna Miller and Ravi Zupa.
![Covered bridges playing cards Covered bridges playing cards](http://www.wopc.co.uk/core/cache-wopc-thumbs/simonwintle/13479-covered-bridges-playing-cards/images/covered-bridges-0.8264dcce.jpg)
Covered bridges playing cards
Historical covered bridges with photography by Bill Miller, 2006.
![Motherpeace Round Tarot Motherpeace Round Tarot](http://www.wopc.co.uk/core/cache-wopc-thumbs/simonwintle/13474-motherpeace-round-tarot/images/motherpeace-tarot-0.c1781804.jpg)
Motherpeace Round Tarot
An original and imaginative feminist tarot invoking matriarchal Goddess energy.
Most Popular
Our top articles from the past 28 days