Army & Navy
Andrew Dougherty’s Army & Navy deck from the Civil War era, c.1865.
Andrew Dougherty’s “Army & Navy” deck, c.1865
This remarkable and rare deck from the Civil War era has non-standard suits. The blue suits depict the ironclad warships “Monitor” and “Merrimack” and the red suits depict Zouaves and Drummer Boys. The court cards are full-length caricatures of naval and other personnel. The Ace of Monitors reads: “To commemmorate the greatest event in Naval History, the substitution of iron for wood. A. Dougherty Manufacturer, 26 Beekman St. N.Y.”
In March 1862 civil war in North America brought about an engagement between the Union's “Monitor”, mounting two heavy guns in an armoured revolving turret, and the broadside-armed Confederate ship “Virginia” (ex-frigate “Merrimack” cut down and iron-plated) known as the Battle of Hampton Roads (also known as “the Battle of the Monitor and the Merrimack”) in the first engagement between ironclad warships. The battle lasted four hours without inflicting serious damage and with only one casualty, but heralded the beginning of a new era of ironclad warships rather than wooden ones.
Above: Andrew Dougherty's “Army & Navy” deck from the Civil War era, c.1865. The cards have no indices and are printed in red/blue/black only with a green/red back pattern. Images courtesy Jay Recher.
By Simon Wintle
Spain • 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.
Activity for Army & Navy
Sign in to comment or save this article.
Related Articles
K Deck
“K Deck” political playing cards, USA, c. 2004.
Ms. playing cards
‘Ms. playing cards’ promoting votes for women, USA, 1975.
Texas Democrats Missing in Action
“Texas Democrats Missing in Action” playing cards published by Bernsen Consulting, Austin, Texas, 20...
Hillary Presidential playing cards, 2016
Hillary Clinton Presidential playing cards, USA, 2016
Operation Iraqi Freedom playing cards
Operation Iraqi Freedom: U.S. Military heroes playing cards, 2003.
Liberated: America's Most Unwanted
“Liberated: America's Most Unwanted” playing cards published in support of the Iraqi War, c.2003.
War Profiteers playing cards
“War Profiteers” playing cards, USA, c. 2004.
United Nations of Weasels
“United Nations of Weasels” anti-war political playing cards, USA, 2003.
Try’em playing cards
Try’em: the U.S. Regime Change, or “52 Most Wanted Criminals” c. 2003.
War Party playing cards
War Party playing cards, in opposition to the Iraq War, USA, 2003.
Anma US Armed Forces
Anma US Armed Forces, 1942.
Victory
“Victory" cards celebrating U.S. participation in the Allied victory, c.1945.
In der Fuehrer’s Face
“In der Fuehrer’s Face” playing cards designed in 1945 by Antonio Arias Bernal, a Mexican artist, bu...
42: Andrew Dougherty
Andrew Dougherty was one of the biggest American card-makers in the 19th century
Cruiser Playing Cards
Dougherty's ‘Cruiser No.96’, first published c.1897, was dedicated to the U.S. Navy..
13: Some North American Cards
I deal with some of the US makers in more detail on other pages, but here is a brief introduction.
Seminole Wars deck by James Y. Humphreys, Philadelphia, c.1819
Court cards from the Seminole Wars deck by J. Y. Humphreys, Philadelphia, c.1819. Ace of Spades from...
Excelsior
Excelsior by A. Dougherty, c.1870.
Illuminated Playing Cards, c.1865
Facsimile edition of Andrew Dougherty's Illuminated deck, c.1865, published by U.S. Games Systems, I...
The History of Playing Cards
Playing cards appear in European records in the late 14th century, but their earlier history lies fu...
Most Popular
Our top articles from the past 60 days
