Excelsior
Excelsior by A. Dougherty, c.1870.
Excelsior brand by A. Dougherty, 26 Beekman St, New York, c.1870.
This is a difficult deck to date. The shaded ace of spades is early. The Dougherty card-manufactory was moved to 26 Beekman Street in c.1858. The courts also appears to be early but the round corners should be later.
Above: Excelsior brand by A. Dougherty, 26 Beekman St, New York, c.1870. Images courtesy Gene Barry.
REFERENCES
Dawson, Tom & Judy: The Hochman Encyclopedia of American Playing Cards, U.S. Games Systems Inc., 2000
By Simon Wintle
Spain • Member since February 01, 1996 • Contact
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.
Related Articles
The Lumberjacks
2nd edition of Lumberjacks designed by Vadim Smolenskiy and manufactured by U.S.P.C.C.
42: Andrew Dougherty
Andrew Dougherty was one of the biggest American card-makers in the 19th century
No.500 Playing Cards
No.500 Playing Cards published by U.S.P.C.C., c.1910
Army & Navy
Andrew Dougherty’s Army & Navy deck from the Civil War era, c.1865.
Union Playing Card Co.
Not much is known about this early manufacturer who is reckoned to have traded between c.1860s-1890s...
Tally-Ho
The earliest Ace of Spades had the Centre Street address and the Jolly Joker was used until the “Tal...
Indicator No.50
No.50 appears at the bottom of the Ace of Spades and the cards have corner indices and miniature sui...
Andrew Dougherty c.1850
The idiosyncratic courts used in this deck were used by several other U.S. manufacturers, including ...
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.
Illuminated Playing Cards, c.1865
Facsimile edition of Andrew Dougherty's Illuminated deck, c.1865, published by U.S. Games Systems, I...
Jumbo Bridge 88
Cards with jumbo indices were introduced in 1895, and were given the subtitle '88'.
The United States Playing Card Company
Over the years the pressures of competition and other market forces have led to many smaller manufac...
Strauss & Trier, c.1860
Strauss & Trier, New York, c.1860.
Andrew Dougherty 1848-1930
Andrew Dougherty was born in Donegal in Northern Ireland in 1827. He started his playing card busine...
Thomas Crehore copy, c.1850
Thomas Crehore copy, c.1850.
Squeezers No.35
By 1877 the New York Consolidated Card Co's "Squeezers" were a great success on account of the indic...
U. S. A.
The manufacture of playing cards in America only began during the second half of the 18th century, a...
Bonnie Blue’s Rummy Cards
Bonnie Blue’s Rummy Cards.
4 Seasons Playing Cards
Colours of the Four Seasons - Playing Card Art Deck
Most Popular
Our top articles from the past 60 days
