1897 Playing Cards

[starfam]

I am with a Cowboy Action Shooting club and a part of our sport is trying to keep accessories and props as period correct as possible.  We are thinking of acquiring some cards styled as they would of been in 1897 Western US.  On most movies, they show using cards with no numbers on them, I believe those are called Indexed.  I haven't been able to find any reproduction decks like that.  We considered having some made but wouldn't need a 100 decks like so many of the custom folks require.  Anyone have any advice for me?

[ecNate]

Perhaps you could get by with some replicas

1864 is pretty close and probably has the look you want, complete with square corners.
http://www.amazon.com/Highlanders-1864-Poker-Cards-Replica/dp/1572810963/
https://www.usgamesinc.com/1864-Poker-Deck/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXkr3uHLcMU


1876 is a little closer, but used a more unique marking system with 4 indicies so probably not what you want.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1500444958/1876-mauger-quadruplicate-playing-card-restoration


1883 is pretty darn close, but you are most likely wanting a traditional deck and not this transformation style
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1500444958/1883-murphy-varnish-transformation-playing-cards-r/

Also, while they don't have cards in the period you are looking for this site may be useful for other props/projects - http://historicgames.com/

[Worst Bower]

Hi and welcome to the forum.

It depends on what games your characters are playing. In the old west, Faro was very popular. Faro players were more old fashioned or perhaps superstitious so they used more traditional cards that were not indexed, had sharp corners, and were not reversible.

Here are some I found:
http://www.riverjunction.com/Faro-Cards--Eagle_p_550.html
http://www.amazon.com/Collectible-Badges-Pharo-Playing-Poker/dp/B002J5JWF8/

I'm not sure if Faro cards still had blank backs by 1897 which is quite late.

[starfam]

Thank you both for your quick replies!  These are exactly what I was looking for.  I had seen them listed but none of the descriptions let me know if they had the numbers on them.  The pictures you attached are perfect!!!

Thanks again!!!

[Don Boyer]

Thank you both for your quick replies!  These are exactly what I was looking for.  I had seen them listed but none of the descriptions let me know if they had the numbers on them.  The pictures you attached are perfect!!!

Thanks again!!!

The Highlanders deck and another deck (with illuminated pips) are available from U.S. Games Systems.  Both appear on this page at their website: https://www.usgamesinc.com/Playing_Cards.html

The company has a huge percentage of the tarot card market but does also make a few playing card designs, including those two 19th-century replica decks.  While more of a Civil War vintage, they would still have been in popular use for the game faro.  Indices started appearing on playing cards around the 1870s, so by 1897 they would have been a common-enough sight.

I should point out that many replica decks are noticeably more expensive than your typical pack o' Bicycles from the corner drugstore.  If you contact USGS directly, perhaps you could make arrangements for a bulk purchase at discount.

This deck would be closer to an accurate replica of the kinds of decks popular for other games besides faro:
http://www.amazon.com/Texan-Playing-Limited-Quantity-Company/dp/B000VS6VF4
It's the Texan brand 1889 deck - the cards are artificially yellowed but the overall design is consistent with what one would have purchased around the end of the 19th century from a card dealer.  This dealer on Amazon is selling them for $10.50 a pack - I've seen them for lower in the past, but they are becoming less commonly found, so it might be a fair price; you should shop around to be certain.

[WoPC]

Here are some I found:
http://www.riverjunction.com/Faro-Cards--Eagle_p_550.html
http://www.amazon.com/Collectible-Badges-Pharo-Playing-Poker/dp/B002J5JWF8/

I'm not sure if Faro cards still had blank backs by 1897 which is quite late.

These are some very interesting reproduction decks.

Does anybody know who the creator is of this Faro restoration deck? Thanks