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It's been awhile, so time to post some of my newest acquisitions. First up is an early 1890s Bicycle Lotus back deck, and then an 1895 Lotus back deck. I had read somewhere that USPC changed the court card designs around this time, and you can really see the differences. Definite improvement, in my opinion. And some Dougherty Jewel No. 95 decks. These are a little smaller than bridge decks, but not nearly as small as Cadet or Fauntleroy decks.

Here are a couple of decks featuring animal backs - a USPCC Sportsman's deck (with the bird - Pheasant back) and a National Card Co. Crescent deck (c.1890) with the mean looking cat in a bow-tie

A few more new additions. First, A Pullman deck made by USPCC c1900. One of my favorite back designs, and I was finally able to find a poker size deck in awesome condition. and a couple of Perfection Playing Card Co. decks c1890 in very nice shape

So this is an interesting KEM deck. It has the 2nd ever KEM ace of spades, KEM Playing Cards, Inc. (c1936), but the Thrilling Stoty of KEM Cards booklet has KEM Cards Sales Corp. on the back side, so that would put it c1937. Maybe cards made prior to company change. More intriguing, this is my second KEM deck from around this time with a Brown & Bigelow tax stamp. Other deck is in page 2 of this thread. So now I'm wondering if all the early KEM decks were made by B & b and when did KEM Cards get its own tax stamp?

And back to the pre-1900s. Here's an old Cadets decks with the side opening tuck c.1895. Cadets were one of USPCC's small decks (1 5/8" x 2 1/4'). Nice plaid design.

And the USPC No. 888 Mystic Playing Cards - Shriner Series - nice gold accents on the back - c1898

Here is a neat little set of Chukker playing cards from USPCC from the 1930s based on the tax stamps. Fun box and design. Chukker refers to the time periods in polo.

A quickie for the weekend. This is about the only Brown & Bigelow back that I've ever liked, so might as well share.

New additions. First, a USPC Treasury deck in a slipcase with GAR Encampment, Sept 1898 Cincinnati, so I'm thinking from around 1898. The "Grand Army of the Republic" (GAR) was a fraternal organization composed of veterans of the Union Army (United States Army), Union Navy (U.S. Navy), Marines and the U.S. Revenue Cutter Service who served in the American Civil War for the Northern/Federal forces (Thanks wikipedia!) Second, a neat Columbia deck with a frog and spider back from National Card Co., c 1895

Here are some really neat decks that I picked up. First off are three sets of the Poker Taurino playing cards made in Mexico. The red and blue each have the same back deasign. Each card has a different scene, so I tried to show a bunch of them. I really like the big pip on the courts and aces. And a reproduction Civil War Illuminated deck since I don't think I'll ever have an original. Enjoy!

Here's one I would guess most people haven't seen before - Russell Blue Ribbon Koh-I-Noor back. Check out the slight differences in the courts. From what I read in Hochmann, I think the whist deck was first in 1912 and then wide decks started around 1916. Maybe that's when they changed the courts.

Here are my only two Pyramid Playing Card Co. (Brooklyn, NY - 1920s) decks - one Home Run and one Peter Pan. The Peter Pan is bridge size and has different courts. Looks like they weren't too concerned about coloring inside the lines. Enjoy.And one more, a Pyramid Iris deck with better coloring and courts like the Home Run deck.

Here's a cool early Torpedo box (1924-1929 based on tax stamp). Cards are Russell PCC, but I don't know if they are the original cards with the box or not. Anyway, I really love that box. At first I thought it was a seagull on the joker, but I haven't seen many seagulls hunting other birds. Anyone what kind of bird this is? {UPDATE} from Playing Card Forum, this is a HAWK and here is a picture of the Kalamazoo Playing Card Co. Hawk brand with same image. Kalamazoo bought Willis W Russell and formed Russell Playing Card Co around 1912. Also, here's another Russell PCC deck with the same back but different ace and joker from around the same time or even earlier given the Blue Ribbon whist ad card (see above for a Blue Ribbon whist deck). No box though.I had to get the Pinochle box, too, with the deck back usually associated with Torpedo brand (though the deck in the box is a mish-mash). Early on, mines were referred to as torpedoes. Only later did torpedo begin to refer exclusively to powered weapons in the water.

It is getting harder and harder for me to find KEMs to add to my collection, but I recently snagged this set of 1935 KEM Club decks with the original ace and in the original red and blue colors.And here is a KEM Plumes deck from 1939 with the really rare Aces of Diamonds and Clubs with KEM Playing Cards and company name printed on them. I've only seen this a few times, and only in decks from around this time frame.

Heya Chuqii,
Your bird may be a Chickenhawk ?
Or not ....

For everybody who has the Mauger Centennial reproductions, here's your great-great-great-great uncle, c1876. Has no indices, a little different Ace of Spades with the angled spade pips. The Ace - 9 of each suit shows a lot more wear than the 2-8. You can see the difference in the card backs. My new favorite deck.

Here's another cool tuck box - Crow Brand with a 1911 tax stamp. Courts aren't very exciting, though.

It has been a while, so here are a few new additions, starting with the oldest first: c1883 Russel & Morgan Co. Steamboat deck in two color printing Next are a couple of game sets c1910, the mini cards are Cadets and USPC domino cards And lastly a matched set of Russell PCC Sweathearts, also c1910 Enjoy!

Here is a good looking Congress deck c.1904. This was part of the Congress Club Series, Imperial back, and has a nice gold ink. Nice looking deck. Ad from same time introducing this back and others in the Club Series. Interesting, looks like they recycled this back (and the Majestic back) from The Stage #65 series. Glad they kept the metallic inks. Enjoy!

There is an old thread on PCF (http://www.playingcardforum.com/index.p ... 3#msg35823" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;) that mentions that there are Aristocrat back designs other than the No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 that everyone know, but I've never seen one or been able to find any images, until now. Just picked up an Aristocrat Allover No. 7 deck c.1944 (see pics). So I guess there are backs No. 4, No. 5 and No.6, maybe more. Does anyone have any of those decks or info about the Nos. 4+ Aristocrat backs? If so, please post or let me know. Love to see the mystery deck backs.

Enjoy!

Two more antiques to add, a Columbian deck from American PCC and an Empire #97 deck (Corinth back No. 974) from Andrew Dougherty.

And now a couple of hard to find Bicycle decks I recently added: Pneumatic No. 2 and Lantern No. 1. Enjoy!

Kalamazoo Aristrocrats! Much different back design than I expect for Aristocrats.

Here are a few Elf decks from NYCCC - Hochman NY63 and NY63a. Cards are smaller than normal, and Elf is the only brand of small decks NYCCC ever made.

And now for a couple more of Kalamazoo decks. The sealed wide Smart Set Old Oaken Bucket deck shows 1909 on the tax stamp. Success deck dates to around 1910. In 1912 Kalamazoo bought up the Willis W. Russell company and formed the Russell Playing Card Co.Enjoy!

Another oldie but goodie - American Playing Card Company No. 99 Steamboat deck with box and joker. Enjoy!

It's been a while, so time to add some Andrew Dougherty decks. Below are three Indicator No 50 decks with cool monograms (wish I knew what they stood for - the top left has Union 1E 51, the next looks like TR&C, and the next BC), one Indicator No. 14 deck which I think were the first indicator decks before they labeled them No. 50, and a matched set of the first No. 50 decks with "A. Dougherty, Manufacturer " on the label. Plus an Art Club of Philadelphia deck and an American Whist League deck, both also from Andrew Dougherty. Zoom in and enjoy!

Here is the oldest deck (so far) in my collection - M. Nelson (New York), "Love Scenes", c1864, with "designs from French artists". Oo la la. You can zoom in and see the romantical text on each card, and be sure to check out the card back.

I'm not sure I understand the romantic nature of the QoH's "my slippers" design, but it seems kinda kinky and I like it lol

Thanks for sharing, these are definitely different and pretty neat - Oo la la indeed!

Three new additions. My first US1 deck. I am assuming Tigers, but who knows without the joker. A humorous hotel "Rules for Visitors" card on a Old Fan back c1890. Lots of puns. And a National Card Co. Aladdin deck Oriental back with awesome joker c1890. Enjoy! *** updated 7-26-21 to correct name of card back from Feathers to Oriental ***