Shown below is what I believe to be a previously unknown variation of the Ace of Spades from the US5 series of listings in the Hochman encyclopedia found in Chapter 7 - The United States Playing Card Company. I have taken the liberty of giving it the designation of US5aa because I believe it dates from 1885 or slightly earlier and that it predates both US5a and US5b. This "new" Ace of Spades reads "Russell & Morgan Co." in the manner of US5 whereas both US5a & US5b read "The Russell & Morgan Ptg. Co." on their Aces of Spades. This "new" Ace of Spades has the same combination of design elements of US3a to the left of the central spade pip and of US4a to the right of the central spade pip which is quite similar to the treatment found on the later US5b Ace of Spades. The back design is one of the reversible designs in red which is frequently found for this brand featuring a central design with a vase in the lower right corner.
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