Brown & Bigelow
Brown & Bigelow of St Paul, Minnesota, was a leading producer of playing cards in the U.S. from the late 1920s - 1980s.
Brown & Bigelow of St Paul, Minnesota, was a leading producer of playing cards in the U.S. from the late 1920s - 1980s. Brown & Bigelow manufactured playing cards under several brand names (Hoyle, Remembrance, Kent, Trump, Nu Vue, Treasure) as well as novelty and advertising decks. They also manufactured cards for the Nasco Playing Cards (Chicago), Miguel Galas (Mexico), Creative Playing Card Co. and Stancraft Playing Cards.
Above: Brown & Bigelow's most common ace of spades and joker c.1945-1980s.
An agreement had been made with Spicers (Australia) to provide modern production techniques. Brown & Bigelow also printed some Queen’s Slipper decks in the 1979/80 period. Earlier in the 1970s they lent some designs to Reeds (Australia) for them to print see here. Brown and Bigelow also printed decks for James Hardie Spicers in 1980-81.
A subsidiary of Brown & Bigelow was established in 1927 to bring Hoyle products to the retail market. After 1975 the division’s name was changed to Hoyle Products. In 2001 The United States Playing Card Company acquired Brown & Bigelow’s playing card division, including Hoyle brand playing cards and computer products.
Above: Nutrimientos Purina by Miguel Galas (Brown & Bigelow), Mexico, c.1960
Above: Australian Queen’s Slipper decks made by Brown & Bigelow, 1979/80
Above: Submarine Playing Cards
Above: Honeywell Binary Playing Cards, c.1968
Above: Kent brand.
Above: Hoyle
Above: “Remembrance” playing cards
Above: “Bannister Babies” playing cards with political captions beneath babies, 1960
Above: Historic Michie Tavern Museum
Above: Nu-Vue playing cards for TWA, mid-1960s
Above: Stancraft brand.
More about ‘Nu-Vue’
Above: from leaflet inside Bridge set, early 1960s. Courtesy Matt Probert.
By Simon Wintle
Member since February 01, 1996
I am the founder of The World of Playing Cards (est. 1996), a website dedicated to the history, artistry and cultural significance of playing cards and tarot. Over the years I have researched various areas of the subject, acquired and traded collections and contributed as a committee member of the IPCS and graphics editor of The Playing-Card journal. Having lived in Chile, England, Wales, and now Spain, these experiences have shaped my work and passion for playing cards. Amongst my achievements is producing a limited-edition replica of a 17th-century English pack using woodblocks and stencils—a labour of love. Today, the World of Playing Cards is a global collaborative project, with my son Adam serving as the technical driving force behind its development. His innovative efforts have helped shape the site into the thriving hub it is today. You are warmly invited to become a contributor and share your enthusiasm.
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