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History of Bicycle Card Games

As we celebrate Bicycle Card Games 125th Anniversary here is a brief look at Bicycle Cards milestores and accomplishments from the 1800's through today

1800's

  • Growing popularity of bicycles led to the branding of the world's most popular playing cards brand.
  • Development of the signature "Rider Back" design"

1865

  • American Invention of the "Joker" was created for an additional trump card, which made many appearances in the "Bicycle" line.
  • Thomas Crawford's sculpture "Statue of Freedom" was placed atop the Capitol Building in Washington D.C., which inspired the "Ace of Spades" image.

1867

  • O. Russell, Robert J. Morgan, James M. Armstrong and John F. Robinson Jr. formed a partnership and purchased from the proprietors of The Cincinnati Enquirer what was then known as the Enquirer Job Printing Rooms. The firm commenced business as Russell, Morgan & Co., referring to the two printers in the partnership.
  • The firm printed theatrical and circus posters, placards and labels

1872

  • Business had increased so much, Russell, Morgan & Co., was forced to seek larger quarters and moved into a new building.

1881

  • Russell, Morgan and Company became The United States Printing Company

1885

  • The first deck of Bicycle Playing Cards was produced

1892

  • The famous "Bee Playing Cards," still issued by USPC, originated in New York

1894

  • The playing card business had grown to such proportions that it was separated from the Printing Company, becoming The United States Playing Card Company.
  • The United States Playing Card Company gained immediate advantages, for it acquired other notable companies: The Standard Playing Card Co (Chicago), Perfection Card Co (New York) and New York Consolidated Cards.

1900's

  • During WWII The United States Playing Card Company secretly worked with the U.S. Government in fabricating special decks to send as gifts for American prisoners of war in German camps. When these cards were moistened, they peeled apart to reveal sections of a map indicating precise escape routes.
  • USPC provided "spotter" cards, which illustrated the characteristic shapes of tanks, ships and aircraft from the more powerful countries
  • "Bicycle Secret Weapon" deck of only Ace of Spades was produced as a form of psychological warfare against The Viet Cong during the Vietnam War
  • USPC supplied NASA with cards of flameproof paper suitable for use in spacecraft. Astronauts aboard Apollo 14 used Bicycle Playing Cards.
  • Norwood Facility maintains a museum, featuring a world famous collection of playing cards and memorabilia.

2003

  • The United States Playing Card Company introduces Iraq's Most Wanted Decks, which identified the most-wanted members of President Saddam Hussein's government. When introduced, 750,000 decks were sold in one week.
  • Texas Hold 'em Poker craze boosts sales
  • The United States Playing Card Company entered into a licensing agreement with Techno Source expanding Bicycle into the handheld electronic game category.

2004

  • The United States Playing Card Company acquires KEM, Pisano Dice and Gamblers General Store & Poker Chips
  • The United States Playing Card Company becomes subsidiary of Jarden Corporation
  • The United States Playing Card Company entered into a licensing agreement with Encore expanding the Hoyle brand into the PC software category.

2007

  • The United States Playing Card Company introduces pre-shuffled cards
  • The United States Playing Card Company entered into a sponsorship agreement with the World Series of Poker the single largest poker tournament in the world.
  • Bicycle Take the Train and 4-Mation are launched and become proud winners of the 2007 Seal of Excellence Award by Creative Child Magazine.
  • Bicycle Po-Ke-No is launched and becomes a winner of the Fun Stuff Award by Parents' Choice.

2009

  • The United States Playing Card Company moves headquarters to a larger and more updated facility in Boone County, Kentucky
  • Bicycle Playing Cards introduces Bicycle Prestige, the premium playing card for the competitive player
  • The United States Playing Card Company entered into a licensing agreement with World Series of Poker and introduced a line of playing cards and poker accessories co-branded as Bicycle and World Series of Poker.
  • The United States Playing Card Company entered into a licensing agreement with Jacks & Jokers LLC expanding Bicycle, Bee, Aviator and Tally Ho into the apparel category.

2010