American Card Company's Union playing cards, national emblems, the suits are eagles, shields, stars and flags : Colonel in place of King,--- Goddess of Liberty for Queen,--- Major for Jack
Image of a print created by Benjamin W. Hitchcock's American Card Company advertising Union playing cards designed during the American Civil War. The title is decorative, with red, white, and blue elements used in the design. In the center of the title is an image of an American eagle perched above a dome, surrounded with scrollwork and decorative elements. Main images on print are the twelve covers of the playing cards. Traditional French card icons of suit of hearts, diamonds, clubs, and spades have been replaced with patriotic icons of eagles, shields, stars, and flags. The image of the King is replaced by an image of a colonel in military attire. The image of the Queen is replaced by the allegorical Lady/Goddess Liberty shown in stripes and stars while holding up a red liberty cap. The Jack image is replaced by an image of a major dressed in military attire. A decorative border surrounds the print on all sides. "American Card Company. Entered According to Act of Congress in the year 1862 by Benj. W. Hitchcock in the clerk's office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of New-York. 14 Chambers St. & 165 William St. New York" --text, upper center, in between title. "The union playing cards are the first and only cards ever produced introducing National Emblems instead of Foreign. They are entered according to Act of Congress, and can, therefore, only be manufactured by the American Card Company..." --text, in blue, bottom of print. "The Trade supplied by H. Dexter, Hamilton & Co., 113 Nassau Street, N.Y." --text, in red, bottom of print. "Price to the Trade $3.50 per doz. of $40 per gross." --text, in red, bottom of print.
Type
image
Extent
1 engraving : color printed ; overall 48.1 x 30.48 cm (18 15/16 x 12 in.)
Playing cards--Pictorial works Playing cards Playing cards--United States--History United states--History--Civil War, 1861-1865 American Card Company H. Dexter, Hamilton & Co Advertisements. (gmgpc) Intaglio prints--Color--1850-1875. (gmgpc)
Place
New York (N.Y.)
Source
Jay T. Last Collection Sports & Leisure Large Size The Jay T. Last Collection of Graphic Arts and Social History, Huntington Digital Library
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