New York Consolidated Card Company
The New York Consolidated Card Company was formed in 1871 by the merging of Lawrence & Cohen, Samuel Hart & Co and John J. Levy.
The New York Consolidated Card Company was formed in 1871 by the merging of three earlier firms which had flourished during the mid-19th century. These were Lawrence & Cohen (which had been founded in 1832 by Lewis I. Cohen), Samuel Hart & Co (founded c.1849 by Samuel Hart) and John J. Levy.
“No.35 Squeezers”
In 1876 the New York Consolidated Card Company produced its Patented Squeezers brand, in the same year that Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone and the National Baseball League was founded. It was also the year in which Wild Bill Hickok was assassinated while playing in a poker game. When the fatal bullet struck, Bill was holding a hand consisting of two Aces and two Eights. Such a poker hand has to this day come to be known as the “Dead Man’s Hand”. The invention of “Squeezers” paved the way for indices to come into common use on English and American cards. The brand was celebrated with a Gold Medal Joker and a magnificent Ace of Spades. The term “Squeezers” was also used on other brands manufactured by the New York Consolidated Card Co., including “Triton” playing cards, “Squeezer Steamboats”, “Angel Back Squeezers” and several others.
“Hart’s Squeezers”
“Franco-American”
“Triton No.42”
The “Triton No.42” brand was first introduced by the N.Y. Consolidated Card Co. in around 1890 as one of their more expensive brands and part of their “Squeezer” range read more →
“Sterling Whist”
“Sterling Whist #196” by The New York Consolidated Card Company, Long Island City, N.Y, c.1904. The absence of a date code on the ace of spades suggests they may precede the Ace of Spades date coding which USPCC started in 1904. This brand continued to be produced for some years. The court cards are similar to “Hart’s French Whist”.
“Hart’s French Whist”
“Hart's French Whist #96”, by The New York Consolidated Card Company, dates from c.1905. It is one of the earliest whist size decks by NYCCC with a great Joker. Although the cards are standard bridge size, the court cards seem to make them appear longer. Click image to zoom →
“Lighthouse No.922”
The “Lighthouse No.922” brand was first introduced by the N.Y. Consolidated Card Co. in around 1920 read more →
“De Luxe No.142”
The “De Luxe No.142” brand was first introduced by the N.Y. Consolidated Card Co. in around 1920 in wide size format, then shortly afterwards by a Bridge size edition with multi-coloured Ace of Spades read more →
In the early 1900s NYCC moved its main plant to larger premises at 4th & Webster Aves, Long Island City, N.Y.
From 1894 until 1930 NYCC operated as a separate company under the umbrella and guidance of USPCC. In 1930 the New York Consolidated Card Co and the Andrew Dougherty Co (which became part of USPC in 1907) merged into Consolidated-Dougherty Co., with headquarters in New York. This company was dissolved in 1962 when it became a division of the United States Playing Card Co. of Cincinnati.
Earlier History of NYCCC
Lewis I. Cohen was a pioneering manufacturer who made his first deck of cards in 1832. In 1835 Mr Cohen invented a new machine to print four colours on a sheet at once, which was to revolutionise the entire playing card industry. This innovation soon led to his dominance in the market.
Bee #92
The "Bee #92" brand was first produced by NYCCC in c.1895 and is still being produced today, making it one of the longest running brands ever made. It has been exported extensively around the world and customised for casino use where required. Over the years the design of the Ace of Spades has been simplified, losing the decorative detail seen on earlier examples. Today "Bee #92" cards are manufactured by the United States Playing Card Co., Cincinnati.
By Simon Wintle
Member since February 01, 1996
Founder and editor of the World of Playing Cards since 1996. He is a former committee member of the IPCS and was graphics editor of The Playing-Card journal for many years. He has lived at various times in Chile, England and Wales and is currently living in Extremadura, Spain. Simon's first limited edition pack of playing cards was a replica of a seventeenth century traditional English pack, which he produced from woodblocks and stencils.
Related Articles
Woodblock and Stencil King of Diamonds
A limited edition art print of the King of Diamonds 1984 woodblock joker.
Woodblock and Stencil Jack of Clubs
A limited edition art print of the Jack of Clubs 1984 woodblock joker.
Woodblock and Stencil Joker
A limited edition art print of the 1984 woodblock joker.
Woodblock and Stencil Jack of Hearts
A limited edition art print of the Jack of Hearts 1984 woodblock joker.
Star Trek II • The Wrath of Khan
This deck is a vibrant photographic tribute to "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan," one of the most be...
Norfin® Trolls
Troll dolls with gaudy hairstyles in a multitude of different costumes.
Impressionist Art Cards
Details of 13 paintings by 8 different Impressionist artists on elongated cards.
Safety playing cards
Safety playing cards designed to reinforce the “Think and Be Safe” concept.
Politicards 2016 & Politikids 2016
Politicards™ 2016 & Politikids 2016: twin decks of satirical playing cards produced by Peter Green f...
K Deck
“K Deck” political playing cards, USA, c. 2004.
Tuxedo playing cards
Stylish ‘Tuxedo’ playing cards with animal faces created by Natalia Silva, USA, 2016.
The Deck of Hillary
‘The Deck of Hillary’ with quotes and photographs of Hillary Clinton, USA, 2003.
Shakespeare playing cards: Insults
Shakespeare Insults playing cards with portraits by Jan Padover, USA, 2005.
Shakespeare playing cards: Quotes
Shakespeare playing cards: Quotes, the first volume of a double set published by Prospero Art of San...
Old Testament playing cards
Old Testament playing cards with illustrations by Jan Padover, USA, 2012.
Politicards 2008
Politicards ’08 with caricatures cast as characters from classic movies, USA.
Starz behind bars
Starz behind bars playing cards with mug shots of the rich and famous under arrest, USA, 2003.
House of Cards: Deck of Bush
House of Cards: Deck of Bush playing cards presenting reasons not to re-elect President Bush for a s...
Southern Comfort
Southern Comfort whiskey playing cards, USA.
Holy Trinity Church playing cards
Holy Trinity Church commemoration playing cards, USA, 2011.
Batman® playing cards
Characters from Batman: The Animated Series on a pack issued in 1992.
FDR New Deal Deck
Facsimile of ‘FDR New Deal Deck’ of 1934 re-published by Bill Schroeder, USA, 2010.
Gay / Really straight Republican hypocrites
Gay / Really straight Republican hypocrites, USA, 2008
Politically Wild John McCain
“Politically Wild John McCain” published by Newt’s Playing Cards, USA, 2008.
Mohegan Sun playing cards
Mohegan Sun playing cards published by Gemaco for Mohegan Sun casino.
Ripley’s Believe It or Not! playing cards
Strange facts from Robert Ripley’s ‘Believe It or Not’ books, in the form of cartoons.
Undressed deck
Undressed deck created by Edi Rudo and Néro Catineau, USA, 2020.
Fate fortune telling cards
Fate fortune telling cards published by Merrimack Publishing Corporation, USA.
Politicards 2004
Politicards 2004 with satirical cartoons by the award-winning illustrator Peter Green, USA.
Politicards 1971
Politicards 1971 for the presidential election in which Richard Nixon won a landslide victory.
Politicards 1996
Politicards ’96 with satirical caricatures on every card by Peter Green, USA.
Politicards 1984
Politicards 1984 with caricatures by Donald Gates, published by the Kamber Group, USA.
Politicards 1980
Politicards 1980 in which Ronald Reagan defeated the incumbent Jimmy Carter, with caricatures by Kei...
Card Tricks
Stereotypical representations of gay men and men they most admire, in a 1981 pack from San Francisco...
Royal flash playing cards
Royal flash playing cards with non-standard suits, USA, 1974.
Ms. playing cards
‘Ms. playing cards’ promoting votes for women, USA, 1975.
Old Met playing cards
Old Met playing cards published by the Metropolitan Opera Guild, USA, 1986.
Don Quixote playing cards
Don Quixote playing cards designed by Nam Tibon, USA, 2016.
Calaveras De Azúcar
Calaveras De Azúcar playing cards produced by Natalia Silva, USA, 2017.
52 Ways to talk about adoption
‘52 Ways to talk about adoption’ family-centred playing cards produced by the Center for Adoption Su...
Russian folk art playing cards
Russian folk art playing cards produced by Natalia Silva, USA, 2017.
Trump playing cards
Trump playing cards produced by the Godesky brothers, USA, 2016.
Winstanley Geographical cards
Facsimile of Winstanley’s Geographical cards produced by Harold & Virginia Wayland, 1967.
Brooks dna playing cards
Brooks dna playing cards produced by Gemaco for Brooks running shoes.