You are Here:
Congress Wrapper Transition Question

Author (Read 18736 times)

Congress Wrapper Transition Question
« on: December 07, 2018, 03:00:39 PM »
 

tobyedwards

  • 52 Plus Joker Member
  • Forum Regular
  • *
  • 87
    Posts
  • Reputation: 6
I wanted to pose the following question to the viewers of this website, namely, can anyone state positively that 1904 was the last year that USPC issued printed inner wrappers for their Congress brand decks? Pictured below are two mint sealed Congress decks in my collection. They are Spanish from 1904 and Mountaineer from 1905. The 1904 wrapper has printing on the front, pictured below, and all four sides together with the very unusual stamp which shows both the back design picture and name of the deck within. Has anyone else seen another example of this type of stamp for this year or any other year? I am wondering if this type of stamp was unique to this year alone. The 1905 wrapper is completely plain and made of thinner paper and has the customary stamp affixed to it. I have a couple of other 1905 mint sealed Congress decks whose wrappers and stamps are identical to this one. I do not know when the transition was made from this plain paper wrapper to the later semi-transparent onionskin wrapper.
 

Re: Congress Wrapper Transition Question
« Reply #1 on: December 16, 2018, 12:30:07 PM »
 

torcams

  • 52 Plus Joker Member
  • Forum Regular
  • *
  • 119
    Posts
  • Reputation: 6
No help here, but thank you for the pictures and info.  I will keep an eye out.
Matt Schacht
 

Re: Congress Wrapper Transition Question
« Reply #2 on: December 01, 2019, 04:44:25 PM »
 

torcams

  • 52 Plus Joker Member
  • Forum Regular
  • *
  • 119
    Posts
  • Reputation: 6
Toby, I have it on good authority that Mistletoe carried a similar "named" stamp on its wrapper.
Matt Schacht
 

Re: Congress Wrapper Transition Question
« Reply #3 on: December 03, 2019, 06:52:05 AM »
 

Don Boyer

  • VP/Dir. Club Forum/DAC Chair, 52 Plus Joker
  • Administrator
  • Forum Sentinel
  • *
  • 19,172
    Posts
  • Reputation: 415
  • Pick a card, any card...no, not THAT card!

  • Facebook:
Keep your eyes peeled on this forum - we have at least one Congress specialist collector around here who may be able to answer this question for you.  I believe his handle is Chuqii.
Card Illusionist, NYC Area
Playing Card Design & Development Consultant
Deck Tailoring: Custom Alterations for Magicians and Card Mechanics
Services for Hire - http://thedecktailor.com/
Pre-Made Decks for Sale - http://donboyermagic.com/
 

Re: Congress Wrapper Transition Question
« Reply #4 on: December 03, 2019, 09:17:47 PM »
 

Chuqii

  • Don't Use This!
  • Discourse Veteran
  • *
  • 315
    Posts
  • Reputation: 14
Thanks for the shout-out Don, but I’m a KEM specialist and antique generalist.  A Congress specialist I am not.
Check out my decks for sale on eBay, and contact me directly for discounts. https://www.ebay.com/sch/clahobo/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_ipg=&_from=
Check out a bunch of my collection over on my  UnitedCardists Show Us Your Cards thread: https://unitedcardists.com/viewtopic.php?f=45&t=6900
 

Re: Congress Wrapper Transition Question
« Reply #5 on: December 10, 2019, 01:22:35 AM »
 

Don Boyer

  • VP/Dir. Club Forum/DAC Chair, 52 Plus Joker
  • Administrator
  • Forum Sentinel
  • *
  • 19,172
    Posts
  • Reputation: 415
  • Pick a card, any card...no, not THAT card!

  • Facebook:
Thanks for the shout-out Don, but I’m a KEM specialist and antique generalist.  A Congress specialist I am not.

Whoops!  My mistake.  I knew you were special...  :)
Card Illusionist, NYC Area
Playing Card Design & Development Consultant
Deck Tailoring: Custom Alterations for Magicians and Card Mechanics
Services for Hire - http://thedecktailor.com/
Pre-Made Decks for Sale - http://donboyermagic.com/
 

Re: Congress Wrapper Transition Question
« Reply #6 on: January 08, 2020, 11:00:48 PM »
 

torcams

  • 52 Plus Joker Member
  • Forum Regular
  • *
  • 119
    Posts
  • Reputation: 6
ok, I've added some "finds" to the list of decks with special stamps

Spring 1903
Toboggan 1903
The Hunt 1901

From John McKinnon's article in CTD covering Congress manufacture dates, the following decks were made in 1903/04:  I have annotated with those I've found special stamps for (Y) and those I've seen with a glassine wrapper without the special stamp (N).  We have work to do to complete the research!!

1903
Cavalier
Holland
Holly
Kaatje
Kite Time
Miss Demure
Mistletoe (Y)
Moorish
Naples
Spring (Y)
Tambourine
Toboggan (Y)
Yacht

1904
Aviation Meet (N)
Chink
Egyptian
Hunt (Y)
Into Cover
Kill
Lilly
Meet
Military (N)
Parisian
Run
Shower
Spanish (Y)
Summer
Violet
« Last Edit: January 15, 2020, 01:07:09 PM by torcams »
Matt Schacht
 

Re: Congress Wrapper Transition Question
« Reply #7 on: January 15, 2020, 01:09:51 PM »
 

torcams

  • 52 Plus Joker Member
  • Forum Regular
  • *
  • 119
    Posts
  • Reputation: 6
I've corrected The Hunt, above which was actually copyrighted in 1901 according to the wrapper and seal.

I wonder if more decks outside of 1903 and 1904 had these seals or rather this seal was added later during this deck's production.  The plot thickens....
Matt Schacht
 

Re: Congress Wrapper Transition Question
« Reply #8 on: January 15, 2020, 08:56:47 PM »
 

Dufus

  • 52 Plus Joker Member
  • Junior Member
  • *
  • 27
    Posts
  • Reputation: 1
  • Collector of U.S. playing cards 1930s or earlier.
I passed this link along to the official congress guy.  Not sure if he is a member of the website yet or not. 

Edit:  Resulted in no info.  False hope given.
« Last Edit: January 15, 2020, 09:04:25 PM by Dufus »
 

Re: Congress Wrapper Transition Question
« Reply #9 on: January 16, 2020, 12:31:27 AM »
 

torcams

  • 52 Plus Joker Member
  • Forum Regular
  • *
  • 119
    Posts
  • Reputation: 6
Thanks David.  Need all the help we can get here from those with Congress cards in wrappers.  I will not be surprised if the info is slow to appear.
Matt Schacht
 

Re: Congress Wrapper Transition Question
« Reply #10 on: January 16, 2020, 12:31:42 PM »
 

NCC1888

  • 52 Plus Joker Member
  • Forum Regular
  • *
  • 101
    Posts
  • Reputation: 6
My son (The Congress Guy) and I have created a database for the Congress 606 cards. Were have 341 decks listed between the 1890s and 1930. We researched dates through trademarks, copyrights, The American Stationer magazine, card books and several club members. We only have 3 unconfirmed deck names (probably missed named by the owners that we have no pictures from) and 35 decks from 1920-30 without definitive dates.
Any information about them would be appreciated. Ultimately we want to share the database with the group.
 

Re: Congress Wrapper Transition Question
« Reply #11 on: January 16, 2020, 07:58:42 PM »
 

torcams

  • 52 Plus Joker Member
  • Forum Regular
  • *
  • 119
    Posts
  • Reputation: 6
Dave, if you send me the list of those youre missing I'll see if I can help.
Matt Schacht
 

Re: Congress Wrapper Transition Question
« Reply #12 on: January 16, 2020, 11:25:13 PM »
 

torcams

  • 52 Plus Joker Member
  • Forum Regular
  • *
  • 119
    Posts
  • Reputation: 6
Pictures
Matt Schacht
 

Re: Congress Wrapper Transition Question
« Reply #13 on: January 16, 2020, 11:32:14 PM »
 

Dufus

  • 52 Plus Joker Member
  • Junior Member
  • *
  • 27
    Posts
  • Reputation: 1
  • Collector of U.S. playing cards 1930s or earlier.
;) :D :bosswalk:
Some fantastic decks in this post!
 

Re: Congress Wrapper Transition Question
« Reply #14 on: January 26, 2020, 05:57:03 PM »
 

NCC1888

  • 52 Plus Joker Member
  • Forum Regular
  • *
  • 101
    Posts
  • Reputation: 6
As most of you know I'm working on a Congress 606 (Pre 1930) database. My research has gotten tougher so I thought I would ask for more help here. In this first post are ones that I need good pics of for the database.
HONEYMOON (Two Indians on horseback) 1911 PATENT
JANICE                          1917 PATENT
NOVEMBER                  1918  PATENT
POSTER GIRLS             1904 PATENT
COLONIAL/AUTOCRAT   PATENT 1906   BRIDGE DECK
ORACLE     NAME APPEARS IN 1911 ADVERTISEMENT   
OWL             LACQUER BACK   1890S
STORM        LACQUER BACK   1890S
SUNLIGHT  LACQUER BACK  1890S
PLAYING HOOKY      SAID TO BE A CONGRESS DECK/NO PROOF
ROWDY                        SAID TO BE A CONGRESS DECK/NO PROOF
ORANGE BLOSSOMS  1907 PATENT   
      This may or may not be the card. Need proof. Here is a pic I have.
 

Re: Congress Wrapper Transition Question
« Reply #15 on: January 26, 2020, 06:00:01 PM »
 

NCC1888

  • 52 Plus Joker Member
  • Forum Regular
  • *
  • 101
    Posts
  • Reputation: 6
Here are some cards that I do not have definitive names for;
 

Re: Congress Wrapper Transition Question
« Reply #16 on: January 30, 2020, 11:01:49 PM »
 

torcams

  • 52 Plus Joker Member
  • Forum Regular
  • *
  • 119
    Posts
  • Reputation: 6
On the wides, the trees are "Autumn" and the rural scene with animals is "Rural Life"

I've got scans of some of the lacquers you need - I'll send those soon.
« Last Edit: January 30, 2020, 11:02:19 PM by torcams »
Matt Schacht
 

Re: Congress Wrapper Transition Question
« Reply #17 on: January 31, 2020, 10:16:10 AM »
 

NCC1888

  • 52 Plus Joker Member
  • Forum Regular
  • *
  • 101
    Posts
  • Reputation: 6
Looking forward to seeing them. I have found quite a few since the last post. My unknown list is getting pretty small.
 

Re: Congress Wrapper Transition Question
« Reply #18 on: January 31, 2020, 06:51:20 PM »
 

torcams

  • 52 Plus Joker Member
  • Forum Regular
  • *
  • 119
    Posts
  • Reputation: 6
Dave, I believe I recognize that first card from a Congress display frame.  If memory serves, it was pasted on and the title was papered-over.  I am not convinced it is actually a Congress brand card.
« Last Edit: January 31, 2020, 11:01:11 PM by torcams »
Matt Schacht
 

Re: Congress Wrapper Transition Question
« Reply #19 on: January 31, 2020, 07:12:17 PM »
 

NCC1888

  • 52 Plus Joker Member
  • Forum Regular
  • *
  • 101
    Posts
  • Reputation: 6
A couple ladies from the Chicago Card Collectors thought it looked English. From an old Ebay single swap card post. We are looking for proof on this card. It appears as a 606 on the World Web Playing Card Museum website. The tricycle is turn of the century. Jan Walls thought that a Lois Stebbing had done an article on this card. She is trying to locate it.
 

Re: Congress Wrapper Transition Question
« Reply #20 on: February 01, 2020, 01:20:53 PM »
 

tobyedwards

  • 52 Plus Joker Member
  • Forum Regular
  • *
  • 87
    Posts
  • Reputation: 6
The card you show with the children is from a special edition Congress deck made for a Mr. Jacob Godfrey Schmidlapp who was a prominent citizen of Cincinnati, apparently as a Christmas gift for 1917 based upon the photo of the box shown below. The children shown may have been his grandchildren. Mr. Schmidlapp was a classic American rags to riches success story having established a distillery in 1874 and, later on in 1890, he organized The Union Savings Bank and Trust Company, both of Cincinnati. The second photo shows the special Ace of Spades that came with this deck. Selected phrases also appear above the central pip on each of the other aces in this deck. I do not know if this was the first of the series of such special Congress decks made for Mr. Schmidlapp by USPC. I do know that there was a deck issued for 1918 but I do not have any examples, however, the third photo shows the back design from his Christmas deck from 1919 which represents his home, Kirchheim. In this deck the Ace of Spades is the standard Hochman US6g version which was in effect at that time. The fourth photo shows the Ace of Clubs from this deck which has selected phrases above and below the central pip. This treatment also appears on the red suit aces. Given that Mr. Schmidlapp passed away just before Christmas, 1919, it is likely that this brief special series of Congress decks ended then.

As an aside, the name of the narrow card shown at the bottom of your second post below the two wide cards is "Antoinette".

 

Re: Congress Wrapper Transition Question
« Reply #21 on: February 01, 2020, 05:25:54 PM »
 

torcams

  • 52 Plus Joker Member
  • Forum Regular
  • *
  • 119
    Posts
  • Reputation: 6
Thanks Toby, I have wondered about those cards.  Is the Joker anything special or the standard Congress capital building?
Matt Schacht
 

Re: Congress Wrapper Transition Question
« Reply #22 on: February 02, 2020, 12:00:38 AM »
 

tobyedwards

  • 52 Plus Joker Member
  • Forum Regular
  • *
  • 87
    Posts
  • Reputation: 6
Sorry for the obvious omission. The jokers are just the standard Capitol image with the large US indices.
As another point of interest regarding Mr. Schmidlapp, he was also the president of the Commercial Club of Cincinnati in 1890, which later had a hand in the issuance of the rare and wonderful Cincinnati souvenir deck, Hochman S79, and so he may have had a previous involvement with USPC when it came to their producing specialized decks for interested and influential parties.
 

Re: Congress Wrapper Transition Question
« Reply #23 on: February 02, 2020, 10:53:37 AM »
 

torcams

  • 52 Plus Joker Member
  • Forum Regular
  • *
  • 119
    Posts
  • Reputation: 6
Thanks again Toby.  Those are wonderful and special decks. 

I came across J. G. Schmidlapp's name during my research for the S79 article.  In 1905 he would have still been President of the Union Bank and Trust Co., however his Vice President Albert B. Vorheis is the Commercial Club member pictured in the deck,  as the King of Clubs.

I seem to recall seeing another deck recently with his name on the box, but can't quite place it.  I"ll have to see if I can find it with a little research.
Matt Schacht
 

Re: Congress Wrapper Transition Question
« Reply #24 on: February 02, 2020, 11:30:49 AM »
 

NCC1888

  • 52 Plus Joker Member
  • Forum Regular
  • *
  • 101
    Posts
  • Reputation: 6
Here is his story from a 1921 National Registry article...