Gambling Memorabilia & Playing Cards

Victor E. Mauger United States Centennial Playing Cards. New York, 1876. 52 (no Joker). Two way courts. Pink and black floral backs. 7H with tape repaired corner, otherwise good. Hochman SX1. This deck is remarkable and innovative in several respects, as Hochman points out. Mauger utilizes indices in all four corners, well before indices were widely popularized, and does so in non-standard colors (club indices are blue, and diamonds are yellow). Ace indices are the numeral “1” while tens use the Roman numeral “X.” Additionally, this was the first known American deck printed to celebrate a fair or exhibit, in this case the United States Centennial.