Trophy Whist

Trophy Whist No.39

This ‘modernized’ redrawing of the traditional double-ended courts came about in 1895 shortly after the incorporation of the United States Playing Card Co. Around this time they were introducing several new brands into their range. This deck was distributed in a ‘Trophy Whist’ slipcase (shown right) and also in tuck boxes marked ‘National Method Duplicate Whist’. The courts have no borders.

Right: the box. Click to zoom→

Strange as it may seem, the deck did not meet with much success and was discontinued in the same year. It was re-printed shortly after with more or less standard courts instead of these ‘modernized’ courts, with the same brand name, Joker and box, as many card players would not embrace the new designs. The loser can always blame the cards! Needless to say, the original edition is now quite rare; even the second edition is hard to come by.

Above: Trophy Whist No.39 playing cards published by the the United States Playing Card Co., 1895. The number cards have pips within small rectangles. The Joker has the inscription “Challenge Trophy”.

REFERENCES

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

All images on this page are from the collection of Rod Starling, author of "The Art and Pleasures of Playing Cards".