Cabinet No.707, 1888

Russell & Morgan's “Cabinet No.707” brand was first introduced in 1888 as a 32-card Euchre deck. Brand names such as “Congress”, “Cabinet” and “Treasury” were perhaps designed to give an air of gravity for the serious card player. It may even have been intended to suggest a possible imprimatur by the government for, as we can see, early decks were presented in linen finish generic slip cases with the Statue of Freedom, which was adopted as a trade mark, inside a Spade suit symbol and the words “U.S. Playing Cards” and “The Russell & Morgan Co., Cincinnati” printed or embossed on the front. The Ace of Spades is very similar, and reads “The Russell & Morgan Ptg Co., Cincinnati”. The cards were highly enamelled, gold edges were optional and six colours of backs were available.

Right: the slip case. Click to zoom→

Above: “Cabinet No.707” playing cards manufactured by the Russell & Morgan Printing Co, Cincinnati, c.1888. It is a 32 card Euchre deck and is gold edged. The engraved Ace of Spades is outstanding. The Joker lists the seven Secretarial Departments of the Cabinet that were in effect at the time: Secretary of State, Secretary of Interior, Secretary of War, Secretary of the Navy, Secretary of Treasury, the Attorney General and the Postmaster General. Today, there are 15 Cabinet Secretaries, including the Secretary of Defence which replaced the Secretary of War.

Above: the deck includes instructions on how to play the game of Progressive Euchre and four score cards with which players were able to keep a record of points. The backs of those score cards (left) differ from those of the deck (right). Images courtesy Rod Starling.

Up til the early 1900s the more expensive brands came in attractive colourful wrappers sealing the decks inside their boxes which were printed with the name and number of the brand with extra decorative artwork. As the popularity of Euchre declined, the “Cabinet No.707” brand was changed to a regular 52-card deck with a new Joker.

Cabinet No.707x, c.1900

This edition of “Cabinet No.707” playing cards is a 52-card, gold edged version presented in a very attractive wrapper inside a slip case. It has a plainer U.S.P.C.C. Ace of Spades and a scenic photograph back. The Statue of Freedom which appears on the Ace of Spades and Joker is a bronze statue designed by Thomas Crawford (1814-1857) that, since 1863, has crowned the dome of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.

Right: the wrapper and box. Click to zoom→

The “Cabinet” range was finally discontinued in 1930.

Above: “Cabinet No.707x” playing cards manufactured by the United States Playing Card Co., Cincinnati, c.1902. 52 cards + Joker, gold edges. The monotone scenic backs were an innovation which had been introduced in c.1890. Images courtesy Rod Starling.

REFERENCES

Dawson, Tom & Judy: The Hochman Encyclopedia of American Playing Cards, U.S. Games Systems Inc., 2000

All images on this page are from the collection of Rod Starling, author of "The Art and Pleasures of Playing Cards".