Can anyone help ID this pair of decks? It says New York Consolidated but cancelled CDC (Consolidated Dougherty?) and the open (blue) one has a Rainbow Room advertising card inside.

The side script says "The Union News Company" - I think, hard to read. The card says "RCA Building" so maybe that helps date it? I am guessing that they were sold in the gift shop about 60 years ago, just judging by the style.

My research show that company went out of business in 1956 or 57 depending on what source you believe.

A friend came across this yesterday, and I can't find much about it.

"V" date code, which is not in the table, but falls in the range, since there is a (C} 1932. It's an art deco with multicolor Joker:

Bridge deck, I don't find in Hochmans?

I'd like to announce the First Annual "Cardies" - the Playing Card Awards - nomination period is two months from midnight Monday (12:01AM Tuesday) for two months, closing on 31-August at 11:59PM (all times Eastern).  This year we're doing five categories, but starting next year we'll expand to about 15-18 or 20.

Those five this year are: "Most Creative Design", "Best Deck Accessory", "Best Deck Series", "Best CrowdFunding Campaign" and "Best Overall".  After that two month nomination period we'll determine the Top 25 in each of those five categories and have a public vote from a few days later until the end of November, and award the trophies around the 1st of December.  The cutoff period is August 1st, anything delivered on or after that date or that successfully crowdfunds on or after that date will be eligible for next year in the 2nd Annual 2015 "Cardies".

It's going to be an annual thing, and we're looking for advertising from partners and friends and encourage you to share it to Social Media, etc - as often as you can!  We hope everyone do their best and help make the "Cardies" a success!  We're keeping it pretty simple this year, but next year we'll roll out the red (and black) carpet!  Nominations Here

Always keeping an eye out for the unusual, I noticed this original Congress 606 (Hochman's US6) with Dundreary type 1 Joker and Purple geometric backs. Obviously it has to be an 1880's version, but those are listed in Hochman's Encyclopedia Of American Playing Cards as having "geometric red, blue or black" backs. Obviously this IS original, but where how did Gene Hochman & Tom both miss the fact that there are at least a few Purple backed decks? Must be a rare(r) version, not to even be mentioned as existing in Hochman's? We'll see, Tom - what do you think about this one?  Just not as well-known perhaps, or is it truly an unusual find?  Words of wisdom, sir?  This deck is in fabulous shape, since the 606 brand was the best made of the original brands.  I take such crappy pix myself - I used those from the listing on eBay instead.  The joker is actually not as dark as it appears in the photo, it is clean and crisp and all cards are in excellent condition for an open deck likely some 130+ years old.

Tom, have you ever seen this one before? The only decks I have ever seen from them with no date codes, and I am told that means pre WWII. The box has an emblem embedded into the case, matching the deer and snow capped mountain theme.

(corrected to be 'up-right' instead of sideways...)

I recently found these, two blue decks unsealed with card backs that don't match the tucks and one red deck still sealdd/mint. The blue ones both have a Rainbow Room advertising card in them, and it has a distinctively 50's look.

Anyone have a good handle on the deck? New York Consolidated on the tuck, but CDC Co on the tax stamp. Consolidated Dougherty, I assume. 1 Pack stamp leads me to believe 50's as well.

Here's another eBay deal - paid $10 for it. Poor little thing was obviously unwanted...

Another one that I don't find in Hochman's encyclopedia, Tom. Any clues, or am I just overlooking it again?

As usual, I found it - in the footnotes for NY50, Hart's Squeezers. I guess 1890-1900? One of those decks that was printed so many times it is listed as an "also ran". Since I can't see the AoS it's hard to find.

OK, I'm a quick learner, and I think I actually found something unusual this time.  It's a German deck made in the 40's or 50's (? maybe a lot earlier, but I think that's pretty accurate) with a 12-color process and the courts are like I've heard the "Norwood 85" deck decribed: you can tell the color of their eyes - literally.  Check out the court cards, specifically those two red "B" guys: blue eyes, plain as day.  I speak Danish, but I don't speak German at all (Tyskland in dansk).  I do know that "Blatt" is "Cards", so "Skat 32 Blatt" is "Skat 32 Cards" and "Zanders" is the maker's brand and "GmbH" is a German corporation, and I'll go "FEINPAPIERE" as 'Fine Papers'.  "Düren" is a small town in rural Germany, and "Bergisch Gladbach" is in the Cologne/Bonn Region of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.  So - the maker was located (formerly) in two areas of Tyskland. The maker is Metsä Board Gohrsmühle which still produces 'Chromolux' papers and boards and was founded in 1829, about 20km from Cologne (roughly 13 miles).  I figured that out by looking online and finally came across this website: Metsä Board Paper and Board Mill Gohrsmühle.  The tuck itself is awfully plain, and gives you no clue of the cards inside it. What do you think, folks?  I still take crappy pix, that's the best I can do.  These things in natural light look simply amazing!  Sorry about the glare, I had to use a flash to get details and scalability.  Looking at their website, "Zanders Post-Bank" is a maker of fine paper for banknotes and postage - still.

This was sold as a Steamboat, but I think it's an Eagles/"Super Enamel" deck. Either way I think I did OK for $25!

It's L55, right? AoS is the same, no Joker as is typical. OB2+

Hello to The Discourse members here on ThePlayingCardForum.com!  I'm Mike, the owner of UnitedCardists.com and a 52 + Joker member as well.  Tom, Lee, Don and many of you already know me from "over there", but for the few that don't, we're trying to open a few doors and put our heads together to do the one thing that everybody here agrees about: furthering our hobby of collecting playing cards.

I'm going to be the local host at this year's 52+J annual convention here in my hometown of Charleston South Carolina where I've lived basically since I was born.  Mom's Danish, so I know enough dansk to get by, and I tend to think that way since I was brought up in a multi-lingual household.  That convention will be held Wednesday October 15th through Saturday October 18th and I invite each and every one of you to attend.  Charleston is a fabulous place, if you've never been it's time to visit "America's Most Historic City"!  We'll take in the sights, visit the plantation gardens and maybe even eat lunch at Rarebit.  My wife Donna is planning a great "significant others" track for those who come but aren't necessarily into the hobby, so if you want to spend a couple of days before or after the convention we'd be more than happy to plan some things.  I know for certain that Randy Butterfield and several others are already planning on making a tourist event out of it, so we're prepared to entertain.  That date is less than 6 months away, so if you haven't already made plans, please come visit.  The hotel and convention site is less than 5 miles from my office, the "InnPlace Charleston" and "52plus" works to get the special rate for those dates shown above plus a few days on either side which is $95 including breakfast for two every day.  The hotel is a fabulous property and typical room rates are $149 and up.  It used to be a Marriott and the new owners turned it into an old Charles Town feature, it's a heck of a venue for the convention!  Here's the website where you can make your reservation: http://www.innplacehotels.com/locations/charleston

As far as I know Steve Bowling and the rest of the convention planning crew haven't nailed down the price for this year yet, but I'm going to go out on a limb and say it's probably going to be about $50 or so.  More news will be forthcoming in the next two issues of the club's newletter "Clear The Decks" which is published by someone you likely already know: Judy Dawson, Tom's wife (AKA "HeartQ" here).  I'm sure as soon as those details are available both Tom and I will post them here and on UC.

Tom if there are any updates that I'm not aware of or I misstated anything, please chime in here and set me straight!