Triplicate No.18
Dougherty first secured a patent for “Triplicates” in 1876, a novel type of indices with a miniature card in the top left-hand corner (and bottom right).
A. Dougherty’s “Triplicate No.18”
Andrew Dougherty first secured a patent for “Triplicates” in 1876, a novel type of indices with a miniature card in the top left-hand corner (and bottom right). These kept Dougherty at the forefront of innovation. There are several variations in the size and design of the “Triplicate” indices, with the smallest being the earliest. Dougherty's “Triplicate” playing cards have a specially designed Ace of Spades which was intricately engraved, with a spread of cards inside the central Spade symbol demonstrating the innovation.
Above: Triplicate No.18' playing cards by Andrew Dougherty, c.1878. This is the second version of the brand with a 'Little Joker' card instead of a 'Best Bower' and a more elaborate Ace of Spades with the addition of two cherubs and an eagle at the top.
Above: Doughtery’s patent for his “Triplicates”. Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 16S,626, dated October 11, 1875; application filed October 6, 1875. See original document here►
REFERENCES
Dawson, Tom & Judy: The Hochman Encyclopedia of American Playing Cards, U.S. Games Systems Inc., 2000
Hargrave, Catherine Perry: A History of Playing Cards and a Bibliography of Cards and Gaming, Dover Publications, New York, 1966
Images from the collection of Rod Starling, author of "The Art and Pleasures of Playing Cards". Thanks to Matt Probert for extra research.
By Rod Starling
Member since January 09, 2013
View ArticlesRod Starling is one of the founding members of the 52 Plus Joker card collectors club. He has written many articles for the club's quarterly newsletter, Clear the Decks. His collection still encompasses both foreign and American decks. Rod has also authored a book titled The Art and Pleasures of Playing Cards.
Also by Rod Starling
Download as Adobe PDF files:
"Playing Card Art Collectors Extraordinaire"
"Shuffling Along With History"
"Steamboat Cards and the Mississippi Mystique"
Recommended
Luxury Collectable Decks
Luxury packs of cards have been produced since the 15th century, a trend that is very popular among collectors today.
Dutch costume playing cards
Dutch costume playing cards made for the Dutch market in the second half of the 19th century.
Royal Cards Reign of Queen Anne
“Royal Cards Reign of Queen Anne” cover historical events, both honourable and treacherous, during the period 1702 to 1704.
72: The Ace of Spades
In standard English packs the Ace of Spades is associated with decorative designs. This is a historical survey of why this should be.
Cartomancy and Divination Cards
Playing cards are used for fortune-telling, predicting the future or even as a psychological adjunct to folk medicine and therapy.
Dubois
Dubois card makers from Liège in the Walloon Region of Belgium.
PLAYING CARDS: A Secret History
PLAYING CARDS: A Secret History
A. Camoin & Cie
This deck was inherited from ancestors, it has has a family history surrounding it. Details of the lives of previous owners make it all so fascinating.
History of Playing Cards explained in 5 Minutes
Video by Art of Impossible. In this video you will get a short overview of the most important historical facts about playing cards and their history.
Toledo, 1584
Archaic Spanish-suited deck with 48 cards made in Toledo in 1584.
Gambling and Vice in the Middle Ages
Gambling and Vice in the Hours of Charles V: card-playing in the local tavern
“Deck with French suits”
A facsimile of an early 19th century French-suited deck from the collection of F.X. Schmid.
Warren Paper Products
Warren Paper Products Co., Lafayette, Indiana, publishers of Built-Rite toys, games and puzzles.
Rainbow
Rainbow card game and colour mixing guide printed by Goodall & Sons for Robert Johnson, c.1920.
Heraldic playing cards
Reproduction of Richard Blome’s Heraldic playing cards, 1684, presented to lady guests at WCMPC Summer Meeting in 1888.
Le Jeu de la Guerre
Facsimile of “Le Jeu de la Guerre” designed by Gilles de la Boissière in 1698.
A Royal Game
A Royal Game featuring Queen Victoria’s children and extended family, published by A. Collier, London, c.1896.
Leather Card Case Patent Application
In 1932, a patent was granted to Colin Hart and George Franklin for a leather case in the form of a book cover for playing cards.
Corner Indices
Corner Indices were a major innovation in playing card production.
Baraja Carlos IV by Félix Solesio, 1800
Baraja Carlos IV, Félix Solesio en la Real Fábrica de Macharaviaya, 1800.
71: Woodblock and stencil: the hearts
A presentation of the main characteristics of the wood-block courts of the heart suit.
70: Woodblock and stencil : the spade courts
This is a presentation in a more straightforward fashion of the work done by Paul Bostock and me in our book of the same name.
66: Adverts and related material 1862-1900
Some further material relating to cards from nineteenth and twentieth century periodicals.
Tyrolean Playing Cards
Facsimile of patriotic 1878 Tyrolean playing cards published by Piatnik in 1992.
65: Adverts and related documents 1684-1877
Here are a few early advertisements relating to cards from newspapers 1684-1759 and a number of later 19th century documents of interest.
Prisoners of War
Hand-made playing cards by French prisoners of war in Porchester Castle, Hampshire, c.1796.
64: The descendants of the French regional patterns: 2
A continuation of the development of the off-spring of the Paris patterns and a few examples of how the French regional figures have inspired modern designers.
63: The descendants of the French regional patterns: 1
A great many regional patterns were exported from France and subsequently copied elsewhere. Some of them became local standards in their own right.
62: French regional patterns: the queens and jacks
Continuing our look at the figures from the regional patterns of France.
61: French regional patterns: the kings
On page 11 I illustrated several examples of the regional French patterns from Sylvia Mann's collection; this is a more in-depth look at the figures of these patterns ("portraits" in French).
Iohann Christoph Hes Tarot c.1750
Facsimile of Tarot de Marseille by Iohann Christoph Hes, Augsburg, c.1750.
Notgeld - Emergen¢y Money
Notgeld - Emergency Money - was in rare cases issued on playing cards.
60: Some less common Goodall packs, 1875-95
There are some interesting packs from Goodall in the last quarter of the 19th century.
Bicycle Playing Cards, 1st edition
1st edition of famous Bicycle Playing Cards printed by Russell & Morgan Printing Co., Cincinnati, 1885.
Trentine Pattern
Trentine Pattern
Primiera Bolognese
Primiera Bolognese by Modiano, c.1975
Zum
Zum card game published by Milton Bradley Co., c.1905.
Johannes Müller c.1840
Facsimile edition of Swiss suited deck first published by Johannes Müller in c.1840.
Pedro Varangot, 1786
Archaic Navarra pattern produced for the Pamplona General Hospital Monopoly by Pedro Varangot in 1786.
Navarra Pattern, 1682
Navarra pattern produced for the Pamplona General Hospital Monopoly in 1682.