American Card Co. Union Playing Cards, 1862

Item — Box: 1, item: 5

Scope and Contents

Unsealed in case. Top part of case is missing.

Dimensions: 2.69" x 3.63"

Quantity: 52

Original inventory number: 6

Dates

Creation: 1862

Conditions Governing Access

Advanced notice required for access.

Biographical / Historical

The cards appeared under the imprint of Benjamin W. Hitchcock's American Card Company. Hitchcock was the owner of a music and publishing business that had locations at 14 Chambers St. and 165 Williams St., New York City. These addresses part of the design on the ace of eagles. The firm issued two packs of Union Playing Cards, this one published in 1862, and a much rarer one the following year. They were likely published to exploit and encourage patriotic sentiment in the early years of the Civil War.

Full Extent

From the Collection: 2 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

From the Collection: English

Additional Description

Physical Description

Housed in original telescoping box with printed wraps, though the top fastener is missing, and the interior of the box still retains the original revenue stamp. In lieu of the traditional French suits, this deck employs patriotic symbols. Including the text that is missing from the top of the box, the back tells the story of the deck:

"THE AMERICAN CARD CO. Confident that the introduction of NATIONAL EMBLEMS in place of Foreign, in PLAYING CARDS, will be hailed with delight by the American People, take pleasure in presenting the UNION PLAYING CARDS. As the first and only Genuine American Cards ever produced, in the fullest confidence that the time is not far distant when they will be the leading Card in American market...

The Union Cards are calculated to play all the Games for which the old style of Playing Cards are used. The suits are EAGLES, SHIELDS, STARS, AND FLAGS. GODDESS OF LIBERTY in place of Queen, COLONEL for King, MAJOR for Jack. In playing with these Cards, they are to be called by the names the emblems represent, and as the Emblems are as familiar as household words, everywhere among the American people, they can be used as readily the first occasion as Cards bearing Foreign emblems."