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Published January 15, 2013 Updated January 20, 2023

Russell Playing Card Co.

Willis W. Russell started a modest playing card business in Milltown, a small town in northern New Jersey, in 1905.

1905 USA Kalamazoo Playing Card Co Russell Playing Card Co. Aristocrat Recruits Regulars Smart Set Add to Collection

Above: nearly all card makers of this period produced a “Steamboat” brand which was usually the bottom of the line in quality. Russell employed a clever marketing device by picturing a steamboat on its “Recruits” brand Ace of Spades with the logo “Better than STEAMBOATS” and included a Joker clearly associated with the plantations that were located in states through which the steamboats sailed on their voyages up and down the Mississippi River. Click image to zoom

Right: portrait of Willis W. Russell on the Ace of Spades, c.1905 →

Willis W. Russell started a modest playing card business in Milltown, a small town in northern New Jersey, early in the 20th century. Production commenced in 1905 and numerous brands were successfully introduced. These include Recruits, Regents, Rustlers, Regulars, Rattlers, Moguls, Club Moguls, Retrievers and Blue Ribbon. However, the company fell into financial difficulties, which was unfortunate seeing that their cards were of a superior quality. It ceased operations in 1911 and was sold at public auction. The business was salvaged by Mr Benjamin Rosenthal who merged the former Willis W. Russell and Kalamazoo Playing Card Companies into Russell Playing Card Company. In 1914 the American Bank Note Company's playing card division was also acquired and merged into the company, and thereafter the Russell Playing Card Company became successful.

box of Russell's Regulars with ‘Long Distance Pips’, c.1906. Image courtesy Rod Starling

Left: the colourful front of a box of Russell's "Regulars" with ‘Long Distance Pips’, c.1906.

Willis W. Russell's “Regulars” were first issued in c.1906, a brand aimed at the armed forces, in tribute to men of the “regular army”. It was patented with ‘Long Distance Pips’ with shading in the hearts and spades. These are sometimes known as ‘No Revoke’ decks. The pictured box is one of the most attractive ever produced. Read more →

“Smart Set 400” series

Above: “Smart Set 400” series.

Willis W. Russell included an extra card in each deck to allow the owner to request a replacement for any lost card.

The “Smart Set 400” brand with named backs had been introduced by the Kalamazoo Playing Card Co. in Michigan. After Kalamazoo merged with the Russell Playing Card Co the “Smart Set 400” series continued to be published by the Russell Playing Card Co under its own name and with its own Ace of Spades. Read more →


In 1929 Russell Playing Card Co became a division of the United States Playing Card Company and many brands continued to be produced with the Russell Ace of Spades.

“Aristocrat” brand with Russell ace of spades, c.1958

Above: “Aristocrat” brand with Russell ace of spades, derived from former American Bank Note Company and printed by USPCC, c.1958. Image courtesy Matt Probert.

“Aristocrat” brand with USPCC ace of spades, c.1981

Above: “Aristocrat” brand with U.S.P.C.C ace of spades and former American Bank Note Company joker and back, c.1981. The box has the company seal where the tax stamp used to be. The tax on cards was repealed in 1965. Image courtesy Rod Starling.


REFERENCES

Dawson, Tom & Judy: The Hochman Encyclopedia of American Playing Cards, U.S. Games Systems Inc., 2000.

Starling, Rod: Faces that Launched 1000s of Decks, in 'Clear the Decks', the Newsletter for 52 Plus Joker (edited by Judy Dawson), Sept 2008.

All images on this page courtesy Rod Starling unless stated otherwise.

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94 Articles

By Rod Starling

Member since January 09, 2013

Rod Starling was one of the founding members of the 52 Plus Joker card collectors club. He authored many articles for the club's quarterly newsletter, Clear the Decks. His collection encompasses both foreign and American decks. Rod also authored a book titled The Art and Pleasures of Playing Cards.


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