Romeo and Juliet

The original Willis W. Russell playing card business fell into financial difficulties. 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. The cards shown here appear to be from that time of transition.

Images courtesy Paul Cotner.

Many former Kalamazoo brands were transferred to Russell Playing Card Co, and packeged either in Kalamazoo boxes or in ‘books’ as seen here. Before introducing the Russell ace of spades to these former Kalamazoo brands, the new company issued several un-named aces, although the joker has the 'R' indexes already. Where there was no name on the ace, the joker often identified the brand. In this case we see two steamboats sailing past the Statue of Liberty along with the Romeo & Juliet back design which had already been used by Kalamazoo in the Smart Set 400 brand►

Reference

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