Bicycle Seconds
Bicycle 808 Seconds playing cards manufactured by The United States Playing Card Co, Cincinnati and New York, USA, with offices also in Windsor, Canada and London, England.
Bicycle Seconds, c.1928
The United States Playing Card Company
Imported into Argentina by Palmer & Cia, c.1928
Left: box (front & back) from deck of 'Bicycle 808 Seconds' playing cards manufactured by The United States Playing Card Co, Cincinnati and New York, USA, with offices also in Windsor, Canada and London, England.
The deck was exported to Argentina and a 50 Centavos green tax band can be seen affixed around the box. The tax band relates to Law No. 11.252 which was in force between 1924-1943.
Above: the last type of standard Bicycle Ace of Spades, which is still in use today, albeit with minor modifications. The ace of hearts shows the brown importation tax stamp and the name of the importing agents Palmer & Cia who were successors to Donnell & Palmer, c.1928.
Above: U.S.P.C.C. ‘Bicycle Seconds’ box, c.1895, which contains a Russell & Morgan Printing Co Bicycle deck. Image courtesy Jesse Hobbs.
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
Red Hat Society playing cards
Society that encourages women in their quest to get the most out of life.
Hesslers Four-Colour “No Revoke” Deck
Hesslers Maiden Back Four-Colour “No Revoke” Deck, with enhanced visibility and a traditional look. ...
Bicycle Flight playing cards
Bicycle Flight ‘Airplane’ and ‘Airship’ playing cards, homage to aviation, 2014.
Bicycle Tragic Royalty
Modified courts rendered tragic and somewhat scary.
Timothy Curtis Art
Timothy Curtis Art custom Bicycle playing cards, 2018.
Bicycle 808 Bourbon
Bicycle 808 Bourbon themed deck by US Playing Card Company 2017.
Bicycle Emotions
Bicycle Emotions playing cards with custom emotions on the courts to help you bluff at cards, 2013. ...
Hesslers Rider Back Playing Cards
Hesslers Rider Back Playing Cards with two different coloured backs, 2019.
Bicycle Playing Cards, 1st edition
1st edition of famous Bicycle Playing Cards printed by Russell & Morgan Printing Co., Cincinnati, 18...
Bicycle Heritage
Bicycle Heritage playing cards by the United States Playing Card Company, 2012
Hesslers Enhanced
Matt Hessler’s “Enhanced” four-colour playing cards, 2015.
The Lumberjacks
2nd edition of Lumberjacks designed by Vadim Smolenskiy and manufactured by U.S.P.C.C.
Kingdoms of a New World
“Kingdoms of a New World” playing cards designed by Nathanael Mortensen, 2014.
Surena: The Persian Playing Cards
Diba Salimi has created a hand illustrated pack inspired by Persian ancient history, art and Persian...
No.500 Playing Cards
No.500 Playing Cards published by U.S.P.C.C., c.1910
Bicicleta num.810
The United States Playing Card Co. issued Spanish versions of their flagship brand.
Congress No.606
Congress Playing Cards were first produced by the Russell & Morgan Company in 1881 as the finest and...
Bicycle No.808 - page 2
The famous 'Bicycle' playing cards were first introduced by Russell & Morgan Printing Co in 1885. Th...
Bicycle No.808
The famous Bicycle playing cards were first introduced by Russell & Morgan Printing Co in 1885. More...
The United States Playing Card Company
Over the years the pressures of competition and other market forces have led to many smaller manufac...
Most Popular
Our top articles from the past 60 days
