Art Deco fortune telling deck published by Piatnik, 1936
Published by the Hycrest Playing Card Co., New York, c.1931. The large suit symbol behind each figure enhances the visual impact of the deck, as does the splendid back design & Joker.
A colourful re-working of the standard Anglo-American pattern in Art Deco style.
Willis W. Russell started a modest playing card business in Milltown, a small town in northern New Jersey. Production commenced in 1905.
Promotional playing cards printed by Dondorf for Saks & Company, New York, late 1920s.
The “Smart Set 400” brand with named backs was introduced in c.1906 by the Kalamazoo Playing Card Co. in Michigan. Kalamazoo subsequently merged with the Russell Playing Card Co. in around 1913 or 1914. Thereafter the “Smart Set 400” series continued to be published by the Russell Playing Card Co.
Tungsram Playing Cards, Art Deco playing cards from Hungary
Vac-tric Electric Vacuum Cleaner playing cards manufactured by De la Rue, 1930s
Intended to attract donations on behalf of the Imperial Royal Austrian Military Widows’ and Orphans’ Fund, this elegant and refined deck was designed by Nellie Stern. The deck was printed by Ferdinand Piatnik & Söhne, Vienna in 1916.
