Although I do not own an example of this deck, I do have the joker card pictured on page 107 of the United States Playing Card chapter in the Hochman/Dawson Encyclopedia. When I first acquired it many years ago, I wondered what the back design represented as it seemed to contradict the US55 listing description which stated that it was "advertising their own company." How could this be when the blue back design on my card clearly showed the initials "I.N. Co." which is obviously not related to USPC? Well, last week I saw another single card listing on eBay which had these same initials in a somewhat similar, yet different, red design but with the company name clearly spelled out, namely, "International Navigation Company" which was formed in 1871 and existed until 1902 when the name was changed to "International Mercantile Marine" so the approximate date for this deck clearly fell into this range. I then checked the image on the face of the joker and knew that that flag did not represent USPC. In reading about the International Navigation Company, I came across a picture of a button from one of their uniforms and there was the eagle logo which appears on this flag. Pictures of all of these corroborating facts are shown below. I believe I can now say with some certainty that the deck shown under the US55 heading does not advertise the U.S. Printing Co. but, instead, is an advertising deck for the International Navigation Company which happens to use a standard U.S. Printing Company Ace of Spades. This treatment is somewhat similar to that used for the Glenlivet Whisky advertising deck shown under the later US55a listing which also has a special joker and back design although that USPC ace of spades does read "Glenlivet Whisky" and it's maker's name on the face of an otherwise standard design with the USPC trademark Ace.

These cards have been in my family for many years, and I'm trying to find out more about them - their history, value, etc. I haven't been able to find out what PINC is or the significance of the date - Dec. 5, 1957. The cards are still sealed and in what appears to be their original case.

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Did you manage to get your copy by attending Cardtopia '23?  It was an excellent convention, although perhaps a little short.


I'm eagerly awaiting the announcement of the dates and location for Cardtopia '24!  I heard that New York City is under consideration for its second such convention, but there are also people wanting to hold it in Erlanger, KY, perhaps in hopes of being able to include a factory tour.  Either way, I'm eager to go.


I managed to get a VIP ticket last year, upgraded to include a two-night hotel stay - while the rooms were small, they were well-appointed and (considering the neighborhood) a bargain for the price.  It was a pleasure not having to return home between the VIP cocktail party and the day's events, as well as the "after party" I attended.


I can't recommend it strongly enough - if you have a chance to go to Cardtopia and you enjoy all things cards, GO!  Get the best ticket you can afford - the VIP tickets weren't cheap, but so much was included, that in the end it was really a savings compared to what you'd pay on your own out of pocket.  Prepare to spend a lot - USPC and Cartamundi had some excellent and rare finds available in their merchandise shop.  I now practically have a full wardrobe of USPC/Cartamundi t-shirts!  And there were decks there that are nearly impossible to find elsewhere, some of which at very reasonable prices.


I know - I'm a little off-topic!  I will say they had copies of Flourish special edition for free, and there's a page inside for collecting autographs of your favorite presenters.  Many of the lecturers and performers were mingling with the attendees before and after their events - it was a golden opportunity, to be sure.

Hi,

I have listed every single deck David Blaine has made/released
There are 4 tabs:

1st tab: All Decks Including Signed and Different Seal
2nd tab: All Decks Without Signed and Different Seal
3rd tab: All Posters
4th tab: Other Memorabilia

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1P-vubve0nuC3v04tCWofItEcflCylYkOfulpTHtwwvo/edit?usp=sharing

I'm pretty sure this is everything.
Let me know if I've missed anything or needs changing.

Thanks

For the Split Spades Lions Sepia Edition, if I remember correctly, it was just a sepia card back printed on the box, while the cards inside were blue backed.  Sure, it's less common than a pack of blue-backed cards in the blue-backed box, but I don't know if I'd go as far as calling it the "Sepia Edition."  As I understand it, they considered making cards with that color, got as far as printing boxes for them, but decided before printing the cards themselves not to make the sepia backed version.  Rather than waste the boxes, they used them for blue decks.

That a c1918 USPCC salesman?s sample book I picked up a while ago. The seller was overseas, Greece, I think.

It's not simply "circa" 1918 - it's on the money 1918!  That was the only year (and not even a full year at that) in which the Victory series decks were available for sale - they were pulled off the market shortly after "the Great War" had been won.  I think they were available from April to November.  Any sales books before that wouldn't have had the samples, and any books after that would have had those decks pulled as they were no longer available - even if only by pulling the cards off the pages.