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Published September 14, 2015 Updated April 09, 2023

Nu-Vue for TWA

Nu-Vue playing cards by Brown & Bigelow have novel courts and a special tint which are promoted as “the modern eye-saving concept in playing cards”

USA Brown & Bigelow Nu-Vue Redi-Slip Advertising Aviation Add to Collection

‘Nu-Vue’ playing cards by Brown & Bigelow have novel court card designs and are described on the box as “the modern eye-saving concept in playing cards”. The design was patented in July 1964. This particular deck is a two-joker deck produced with ‘Redi-Slip’® finish and treated with Corobex anti-bacterial compound as a souvenir for TWA (Trans World Airlines, the former American airline company). See: the box

Nu-Vue playing cards for TWA by Brown & Bigelow, mid-1960s Nu-Vue playing cards for TWA by Brown & Bigelow, mid-1960s

Above: Nu-Vue playing cards for TWA by Brown & Bigelow, mid-1960s. Images courtesy Matt Probert.

Right: Nu-Vue playing cards for Denby Lanes & Lounge by Brown & Bigelow, mid-1960s. Images courtesy Rex Pitts.

NOTE: It is has been found that a green background helps people with dyslexia perceive what is written upon it, thus many dyslexics use pale green paper for printing, or a green filter when using computer monitors, reading books etc. Brown and Bigelow's "Nu-Vue" capitalised on that understanding by introducing a green tint to the cards.

Nu-Vue playing cards for Denby Lanes & Lounge, mid-1960s

More about ‘Nu-Vue’

from leaflet inside Bridge set, early 1960s

Above: from leaflet inside Bridge set, early 1960s. Courtesy Matt Probert.

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By Rex Pitts (1940-2021)

Member since January 30, 2009

Rex's main interest was in card games, because, he said, they were cheap and easy to get hold of in his early days of collecting. He is well known for his extensive knowledge of Pepys games and his book is on the bookshelves of many.

His other interest was non-standard playing cards. He also had collections of sheet music, music CDs, models of London buses, London Transport timetables and maps and other objects that intrigued him.

Rex had a chequered career at school. He was expelled twice, on one occasion for smoking! Despite this he trained as a radio engineer and worked for the BBC in the World Service.

Later he moved into sales and worked for a firm that made all kinds of packaging, a job he enjoyed until his retirement. He became an expert on boxes and would always investigate those that held his cards. He could always recognize a box made for Pepys, which were the same as those of Alf Cooke’s Universal Playing Card Company, who printed the card games. This interest changed into an ability to make and mend boxes, which he did with great dexterity. He loved this kind of handicraft work.

His dexterity of hand and eye soon led to his making card games of his own design. He spent hours and hours carefully cutting them out and colouring them by hand.


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