USPCC Bicycle card back designs

[CBJ]

Thanks to law_kid on UC for this link.

http://www.jimknapp.com/Cards/Bicycle.htm#_Toc307762596

An amazing resource of back designs made for the Bicycle brand by USPCC.

What's your favorite??

CBJ

[Evan]

Wow thats pretty cool! But some of those are ugly in my opinion

[Billywiz]

Thanks for posting this CBJ, great to see these vintage back designs...cheers.

Billy.

[Bulldozah]

Thanks for these. It's amazing to see how the designs have evolved over the years.

[Gunshy1]

some of these were just hideous (IMHO). my favorite though, and i love these, are the old fan, new fan, cupid, and league backs. 

[loldudex2]

Acorns, Motorette No. 1,  and Riderbacks.

[dmbaggs]

Those are awesome. I love the Stags, Lantern #1, and cupid backs.

The Dreadnaught back is pretty B.A. as well.

[law_kid]

The Dreadnaught back is pretty B.A. as well.

Supposedly, those are going to be reprinted soon-- I'm guessing by whoever it was that did the "Big Gun" reprints last year.  But that may just be a rumor.

Also, here is the main link to that page, so that you don't get deposited in the middle of the page:
http://www.jimknapp.com/Cards/Bicycle.htm

[dmbaggs]

Supposedly, those are going to be reprinted soon-- I'm guessing by whoever it was that did the "Big Gun" reprints last year.  But that may just be a rumor.

Also, here is the main link to that page, so that you don't get deposited in the middle of the page:
http://www.jimknapp.com/Cards/Bicycle.htm

Really?! I didn't hear about the "Big Gun" reprints. Were they good quality?

[law_kid]

Really?! I didn't hear about the "Big Gun" reprints. Were they good quality?

I honestly haven't opened mine yet.  But if you'd like a pair, you can find them from the usual resellers on eBay:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/TWO-DECKS-Bicycle-Big-Gun-playing-cards-NEW-/250803692652?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a6510a46c

[CBJ]

Those are awesome. I love the Stags, Lantern #1, and cupid backs.

The Dreadnaught back is pretty B.A. as well.

law_kid was right.

The Big Gun decks were the first in a 4 set series of decks.

"The original decks where produced as part of the Victory series during World War I which were popular for war charity card parties. Each deck in the Victory series represented a branch of the military. Big Gun represents The United States Army. The other three designs which will also re-released at a later date are Dreadnaught (Navy), Flying Ace (Air Force), and Invincible (Marines). They were only originally issued for a very limited time in 1918, as the war ended shortly after the decks were released. Very few complete original decks are known to exist today. These limited edition historical deck reproductions featuring the original Big Gun back design and package art which has been hand drawn from the original printing plates. There will only be 2,500 Red and 2,500 Blue special reproduction decks made. Each deck will include a card indicating it is part of this special print run. Decks will be sold in pairs of two; one red and one blue."

Here's the link to the official site
http://www.shopbicyclecards.com/Bicycle-Historical-Big-Gun-Military-Decks-P69C40.aspx?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=Bicycle%2BCards&utm_campaign=Big%2BGuns

CBJ

[law_kid]

law_kid was right.

The Big Gun decks were the first in a 4 set series of decks.

Given that the "Limited Edition" series decks were the first two releases in a supposed series of 10, and since we are still waiting on the last three decks from the "Vintage Design" series, I am not holding my breath.  But I sure hope that they happen!   

[dmbaggs]

law_kid was right.

The Big Gun decks were the first in a 4 set series of decks.

"The original decks where produced as part of the Victory series during World War I which were popular for war charity card parties. Each deck in the Victory series represented a branch of the military. Big Gun represents The United States Army. The other three designs which will also re-released at a later date are Dreadnaught (Navy), Flying Ace (Air Force), and Invincible (Marines). They were only originally issued for a very limited time in 1918, as the war ended shortly after the decks were released. Very few complete original decks are known to exist today. These limited edition historical deck reproductions featuring the original Big Gun back design and package art which has been hand drawn from the original printing plates. There will only be 2,500 Red and 2,500 Blue special reproduction decks made. Each deck will include a card indicating it is part of this special print run. Decks will be sold in pairs of two; one red and one blue."

Here's the link to the official site
http://www.shopbicyclecards.com/Bicycle-Historical-Big-Gun-Military-Decks-P69C40.aspx?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=Bicycle%2BCards&utm_campaign=Big%2BGuns

CBJ

Oh, thats interesting! I knew they were from WWI, but I didnt know all the history behind the decks. I might have to pick some up.

and thanks for the link law_kid!

[Don Boyer]

Really?! I didn't hear about the "Big Gun" reprints. Were they good quality?

I thought they were overpriced until I realized the price was for a two-deck pair, red/blue.  Still, I've seen some gougers posting them for $40 a piece...

Given that the "Limited Edition" series decks were the first two releases in a supposed series of 10, and since we are still waiting on the last three decks from the "Vintage Design" series, I am not holding my breath.  But I sure hope that they happen!   

Yeah, last I heard those two lines were dead in the water.  I really liked the Limited Editions - the white was great, and while the blue looked good, the edges didn't hold up well with use.  I'm going to try getting the Vintage Design series, in red and blue, when I have the ducats.  I'd heard that there were SIX more to go - the total run was to be a dozen decks in both colors.  One of the six currently in release is actually numbered out of order as #7, I was told.

law_kid was right.

The Big Gun decks were the first in a 4 set series of decks.

"The original decks where produced as part of the Victory series during World War I which were popular for war charity card parties. Each deck in the Victory series represented a branch of the military. Big Gun represents The United States Army. The other three designs which will also re-released at a later date are Dreadnaught (Navy), Flying Ace (Air Force), and Invincible (Marines). They were only originally issued for a very limited time in 1918, as the war ended shortly after the decks were released. Very few complete original decks are known to exist today. These limited edition historical deck reproductions featuring the original Big Gun back design and package art which has been hand drawn from the original printing plates. There will only be 2,500 Red and 2,500 Blue special reproduction decks made. Each deck will include a card indicating it is part of this special print run. Decks will be sold in pairs of two; one red and one blue."

Here's the link to the official site
http://www.shopbicyclecards.com/Bicycle-Historical-Big-Gun-Military-Decks-P69C40.aspx?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=Bicycle%2BCards&utm_campaign=Big%2BGuns

CBJ

I thought for a sec that this site was an official USPC site, but it wasn't designed like the newer Theory11-designed pages - it was the style just before that was put in place.  Then I discovered with a little poking around that it's a third-party company called Wingra out of Wisconsin that apparently once was an official retailer for USPC.  I was poking because I noticed they weren't selling Tally Hos.  Last I heard, Gambler's General Store was the new BMOC retailer for USPC.

Thanks to law_kid on UC for this link.

http://www.jimknapp.com/Cards/Bicycle.htm#_Toc307762596

An amazing resource of back designs made for the Bicycle brand by USPCC.

What's your favorite??

CBJ

There's too many for me to choose from.  But I checked the references at the bottom of the page and stumbled over this:
http://www.bicyclecards.com/catalogs/USPC_OnlineCatalog_Playing_Cards_1-7.pdf
It's USPC's 2011 catalog.  Among the more interesting discoveries were:
1) They sell Tallys in bricks of Circle Back red/blue and Circle/Fan red/blue - they don't sell Fan Backs in bricks of their own.  I guess they aren't as popular?
2) They sell a WICKED assortment of mini decks for general purpose, Halloween and Christmas!  Me want, me want...

[law_kid]

My apologies to anyone who may have tried to open the website in Internet Explorer.  I just opened it with IE for the first time and found a ton of freaky-deaky html artifacts.  But I have cleaned those up, and in the process, made a few revisions.
http://www.jimknapp.com/Cards/Bicycle.htm

I have also added a little bit more info and a couple more backs at the end in the section dealing with some of the more modern backs.  If anyone has any suggestions for USPCC-issued non-Rider backs, or any corrections generally, please feel free to message me and let me know.

Thanks!