Manufacturer's Seals on Playing Cards

The seals on decks of playing cards can tell you more about the time the deck was produced. After the tax on playing cards was lifted in 1965, manufacturers began placing their own seals on decks. Early seals were stamp-like in nature, which then transitioned to the sticker-like variety we still see today. Many companies have changed the design of their seals over time. All of the information contained in this article is self-found, so it should be taken with a grain of salt. This information is most useful to sealed USPC decks, which you would otherwise have to open and use the dating code to determine the age. The only three company's I have collaborated information about are the USPC, Arrco, and Hoyle.

Prior to the advent of manufacturers seals, tax stamps were in use. More information on tax stamps can be seen in the Tax Stamps article on this website.

• PLAYING CARD TAX STAMPS

CONTENTS

• • The United States Playing Card Company

  • Arrco Playing Card Company

  • Hoyle Products

UNITED STATES PLAYING CARD CO.

The USPC has had 2 distinct manufacturers seal styles: USPC-STM & USPC-STK. After the tax on playing cards was lifted, the USPC began using the square, stamp-like seal which is pictured below. This same logo design is still in use today, and has existed for nearly a half century. This seal is characterized by it's stamp-like edges, and more square shape.

USPC-STM (1965-1976)According to my research, the USPC moved from the stamp-style seal to the modern sticker-style seal in about 1976. This seal, shown below, is characterized by it's rounded corners, and more glossy material. The USPC likely switched to this style due to it's better adhesive and easier manufacture.

Some examples of the tax stamps in use by the USPC can be seen below.

10 Cent TS - Small (1924-1929)

10 Cent TS - Large (1929-1940)

1 Pack TS - Large (1940-1965)

ARRCO PLAYING CARD CO.

Arrco has existed since the early 1920's (though until 1935 it was named, 'Arrow Playing Card Co.'), and is probably the second most popular manufacturing company in terms of quality and use. I know much less about the exact dates of the use of each of the seals used by Arrco. They did, though, change their seal design much more often than other companies. I am sure of the order of these stamps, but not sure in the dates. If anyone can shed some light on this, it would be greatly appreciated.

It is my belief that Arrco switched from the "stamp-style" seal to the "sticker-style" seal around the same time that the USPC did. With this being said, I believe that the switch to APC-STK-S was in the late 1970's.

In 1987, Arrco Playing Card Co. was acquired by the USPC Co. After this time, the name Arrco and it's back designs were produced by the USPC, and so the USPC manufacturers seal (USPC-STK) was used henceforth.

Some examples of the tax stamps in use by the Arrco can be seen below.

1 Pack TS - Small (1940-1965)