For you that collect early United States Playing Card decks you might find the follow article of interest. It comes from the June 1982 issue of the American Revenuer. No, it is not from a magazine about people after bootleggers it is from stamp collectors of U. S. revenue stamps.
On my website about the history of Russell & Morgan I told a story about an employee that stole playing card decks from the 6th & Eggleston factory for two years. Before pawning or selling them, he attached a tax stamp and cancelled them with his own machine. Would these dates be different than the ones below and be proof of a stolen deck? I have added a button after this article you can click on to read the story. If you have a deck with a different date please let me know.
The Cancellations of The United States Playing Card Company
(The American Revenuer, June 1982, Volume 36, Number 6)
W. H. Waggoner
In 1893, this country suffered a disastrous financial panic. Congress argued monetary policy and late in 1893 the House passed the Wilson bill. The Senate opposed this measure, however, and amended it extensively. Finally, in the summer of 1894 a compromise was reached with the joint approval of the Wilson-Gorman Tariff Act. President Cleveland received this bill on August 15, 1894, but refused either to approve or veto it. Two weeks later, it became law without his signature. Among other things, this act re-established the tax on playing cards at a rate of two cents per pack and let to the appearance of Scott RF1.
This stamp was prepared by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. Printed in lake color on unwatermarked paper and rouletted 5 1/2, it was first issued on August 23, 1894, although the tax was to apply retroactively to all playing card stocks on hand on and after August 1, 1894. Although the US Playing Card Company was in business at that time, that company's cancellation should not be found on RF1 since that stamp was sold only to dealers for attachment to their inventory of playing cards; hence the legend "On Hand Aug. 1894."
The ultramarine/blue RF2 was first issued one week later on August 30, 1894. This stamp bore the legend "Act of Aug. 1894" and was sold directly to playing card manufacturers. The basic design proved to be extremely durable and was not changed until 1918 when RF11 appeared. In the interim, various other changes were made; i.e., watermarked paper, separation by various roulettings and perforations, and a variety of surcharges, but the design remained unchanged. Even this was not the end of this stamp, however, for it reappeared the following year as RF14 and continued in use until finally being replaced in 1922 with the small ''Class A'' design of RFl 7.
Where, then, do we look for the United States Playing Card Company's black cancellation? It might be found on RF2, 3, 4, 9, 13, 16, 17, and 19. Beginning with RF20, issued in 1926, the user's initials between two horizontal bars were precancelled in red by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing.
The earliest cancellation in the author's collection is a (bad) copy of RF2, ultramarine, rouletted 51/2, bearing the two line cancel "U.S.P.C.Co./Sept 1894" reading diagonally up, left to right. It appears to be handwritten in black ink as the letters are in script and are not uniform in size or spacing. Beginning the following month, however, the familiar printed three-line cancellation in black "CANCELED/(date)/U.S.P.C.Co." appeared. This report was written in hopes of gathering additional information about this cancellation from other collectors since all attempts to obtain data directly from the company have resulted only in public relations type handouts.
The cancelled stamps which have been seen reveal that between October, 1894, and June, 1927, the company employed two basic killer designs in its cancellations. For unknown reasons, however, these designs were used alternately for varying time periods.
Table 1 CANCELLATIONS OF U.S.P.C. Co., 1894·99
Month 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899
Jan 1-3-96 1-21-98
Feb 2-1-96 2-23-99
Mar
Apr 4-11-96 4-1-98 May 5-13-99
Jun 6-3-95
Jul 7-14-99
Aug 8-21-96 8-23-98
Sep Sept 1894 9-7-95 9-21-97
Oct 10-3-94 10-1-95
Nov 11-3-94 11-6-95
Dec 12-6-95
The following exceptions have also been seen:
(a) Two different dates in same month:
12-1-95
12-6-95
4-1-98
4-23-98
(b) Year with apostrophe:
1-18-’95
2-1-'95
9-1-’95
1-9-'96
4-24-'96
8-24-’96
6-18-'97
4-1-’98
1-3-'99
In all cases it is the middle date line which is of interest since the top and bottom lines remained essentially constant until the word "canceled" was dropped in 1919 on RF16. All were printed in black. The normal cancellation reads down but similar cancellations reading up are not uncommon and are known for most dates. The size of the lettering also varies occasionally, especially in the abbreviation for company; i.e., CO. and Co.
As shown in Table I, the pattern of the date line for the first half-dozen years, 1894-99, was month-day-year with the last two digits of the year only being used. Apparently one month's supply of stamps was cancelled at a time since only one date per month generally appears. Interestingly, there is no obvious pattern to the dates used and these vary from the 1st of some months to the 23rd of others.
Beginning in 1900, the year portion of the date line was changed to a full four digits (Table II). Apparently it was still the practice to cancel one month's supply of stamps at a time but now it was done, for at least five years, on the same date each month.
Cancellations of U.S.P.C. Co., 1900·07
Month 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907
Jan. 1-8-1903 1-3-1905
Feb 2-8-1901 2-8-1902
Mar 3-8-1901 3-8-1902 3-1-1906
Apr 4-8-1904 4-2-1906 4-1-1907
May 5-8-1900 5-3-1905 5-7-1906
Jun 6-8-1902
Jul 7-8-1900 7-8-1904
Aug 8-8-1903 8-7-1906
Sep 9-8-1900 9-8-1901 9-8-1903 9-1-1907
Oct ***
Nov ***
Dec
*** The only exceptions to this cancellation pattern known are those of 11-10-05 and 10-11-06 which show only the last two digits of the year
Not shown in tables are the two subsequent changes which occurred later as these were repetitions of the designs already described. From late 1907 until at least January, 1917, the company again utilized the abbreviated date line killer design it had employed during the latter years of the 19th century; i.e., month-day-two digit year. Examples in the author's collection include 11-1-07 and similar dates through 1-2-17. Once per month cancellations were still the pattern but now there was apparently a concerted effort to date each month's supply on the 1st (or occasionally on the 2nd). Finally, the last change involved the return to the four. digit year date employed earlier. The earliest such cancella· tion in our collection is 10-4-1917 on RF9. In this case, the date is that when the 7 cents rate required by the Act of 1917 became effective. Similar style cancellations on RF13 (3-4-1919), on RF16 (4-1-1919), and on RF17 (8-1-1922) are known which mark the dates of tax rate changes and/or convenient cancellation times. Interestingly, our collection includes a copy of RFl 7 bearing the cancellation 11-1-1920. This must have involved the use of an old cancellation plate since that stamp was not introduced until 1922. Beginning in 1924, RF19 came into use and the cancellation was 7-2-1924, the effective date of the new tax rate. Thereafter, at least until May, 1927, this stamp was cancelled apparently once a month with a similar killer which generally was dated on the first.
On my website about the history of Russell & Morgan I told a story about an employee that stole playing card decks from the 6th & Eggleston factory for two years. Before pawning or selling them, he attached a tax stamp and cancelled them with his own machine. Would these dates be different than the ones below and be proof of a stolen deck? I have added a button after this article you can click on to read the story. If you have a deck with a different date please let me know.
The Cancellations of The United States Playing Card Company
(The American Revenuer, June 1982, Volume 36, Number 6)
W. H. Waggoner
In 1893, this country suffered a disastrous financial panic. Congress argued monetary policy and late in 1893 the House passed the Wilson bill. The Senate opposed this measure, however, and amended it extensively. Finally, in the summer of 1894 a compromise was reached with the joint approval of the Wilson-Gorman Tariff Act. President Cleveland received this bill on August 15, 1894, but refused either to approve or veto it. Two weeks later, it became law without his signature. Among other things, this act re-established the tax on playing cards at a rate of two cents per pack and let to the appearance of Scott RF1.
This stamp was prepared by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. Printed in lake color on unwatermarked paper and rouletted 5 1/2, it was first issued on August 23, 1894, although the tax was to apply retroactively to all playing card stocks on hand on and after August 1, 1894. Although the US Playing Card Company was in business at that time, that company's cancellation should not be found on RF1 since that stamp was sold only to dealers for attachment to their inventory of playing cards; hence the legend "On Hand Aug. 1894."
The ultramarine/blue RF2 was first issued one week later on August 30, 1894. This stamp bore the legend "Act of Aug. 1894" and was sold directly to playing card manufacturers. The basic design proved to be extremely durable and was not changed until 1918 when RF11 appeared. In the interim, various other changes were made; i.e., watermarked paper, separation by various roulettings and perforations, and a variety of surcharges, but the design remained unchanged. Even this was not the end of this stamp, however, for it reappeared the following year as RF14 and continued in use until finally being replaced in 1922 with the small ''Class A'' design of RFl 7.
Where, then, do we look for the United States Playing Card Company's black cancellation? It might be found on RF2, 3, 4, 9, 13, 16, 17, and 19. Beginning with RF20, issued in 1926, the user's initials between two horizontal bars were precancelled in red by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing.
The earliest cancellation in the author's collection is a (bad) copy of RF2, ultramarine, rouletted 51/2, bearing the two line cancel "U.S.P.C.Co./Sept 1894" reading diagonally up, left to right. It appears to be handwritten in black ink as the letters are in script and are not uniform in size or spacing. Beginning the following month, however, the familiar printed three-line cancellation in black "CANCELED/(date)/U.S.P.C.Co." appeared. This report was written in hopes of gathering additional information about this cancellation from other collectors since all attempts to obtain data directly from the company have resulted only in public relations type handouts.
The cancelled stamps which have been seen reveal that between October, 1894, and June, 1927, the company employed two basic killer designs in its cancellations. For unknown reasons, however, these designs were used alternately for varying time periods.
Table 1 CANCELLATIONS OF U.S.P.C. Co., 1894·99
Month 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899
Jan 1-3-96 1-21-98
Feb 2-1-96 2-23-99
Mar
Apr 4-11-96 4-1-98 May 5-13-99
Jun 6-3-95
Jul 7-14-99
Aug 8-21-96 8-23-98
Sep Sept 1894 9-7-95 9-21-97
Oct 10-3-94 10-1-95
Nov 11-3-94 11-6-95
Dec 12-6-95
The following exceptions have also been seen:
(a) Two different dates in same month:
12-1-95
12-6-95
4-1-98
4-23-98
(b) Year with apostrophe:
1-18-’95
2-1-'95
9-1-’95
1-9-'96
4-24-'96
8-24-’96
6-18-'97
4-1-’98
1-3-'99
In all cases it is the middle date line which is of interest since the top and bottom lines remained essentially constant until the word "canceled" was dropped in 1919 on RF16. All were printed in black. The normal cancellation reads down but similar cancellations reading up are not uncommon and are known for most dates. The size of the lettering also varies occasionally, especially in the abbreviation for company; i.e., CO. and Co.
As shown in Table I, the pattern of the date line for the first half-dozen years, 1894-99, was month-day-year with the last two digits of the year only being used. Apparently one month's supply of stamps was cancelled at a time since only one date per month generally appears. Interestingly, there is no obvious pattern to the dates used and these vary from the 1st of some months to the 23rd of others.
Beginning in 1900, the year portion of the date line was changed to a full four digits (Table II). Apparently it was still the practice to cancel one month's supply of stamps at a time but now it was done, for at least five years, on the same date each month.
Cancellations of U.S.P.C. Co., 1900·07
Month 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907
Jan. 1-8-1903 1-3-1905
Feb 2-8-1901 2-8-1902
Mar 3-8-1901 3-8-1902 3-1-1906
Apr 4-8-1904 4-2-1906 4-1-1907
May 5-8-1900 5-3-1905 5-7-1906
Jun 6-8-1902
Jul 7-8-1900 7-8-1904
Aug 8-8-1903 8-7-1906
Sep 9-8-1900 9-8-1901 9-8-1903 9-1-1907
Oct ***
Nov ***
Dec
*** The only exceptions to this cancellation pattern known are those of 11-10-05 and 10-11-06 which show only the last two digits of the year
Not shown in tables are the two subsequent changes which occurred later as these were repetitions of the designs already described. From late 1907 until at least January, 1917, the company again utilized the abbreviated date line killer design it had employed during the latter years of the 19th century; i.e., month-day-two digit year. Examples in the author's collection include 11-1-07 and similar dates through 1-2-17. Once per month cancellations were still the pattern but now there was apparently a concerted effort to date each month's supply on the 1st (or occasionally on the 2nd). Finally, the last change involved the return to the four. digit year date employed earlier. The earliest such cancella· tion in our collection is 10-4-1917 on RF9. In this case, the date is that when the 7 cents rate required by the Act of 1917 became effective. Similar style cancellations on RF13 (3-4-1919), on RF16 (4-1-1919), and on RF17 (8-1-1922) are known which mark the dates of tax rate changes and/or convenient cancellation times. Interestingly, our collection includes a copy of RFl 7 bearing the cancellation 11-1-1920. This must have involved the use of an old cancellation plate since that stamp was not introduced until 1922. Beginning in 1924, RF19 came into use and the cancellation was 7-2-1924, the effective date of the new tax rate. Thereafter, at least until May, 1927, this stamp was cancelled apparently once a month with a similar killer which generally was dated on the first.
Click on the above button to read about Sydney Brewerton's card theft. The dates that U. S. P. C. used during that period of his thefts were;
6-18-'97
9-21-97
1-21-98
4-1-98
4-1-’98
4-23-98
8-23-98
1-3-'99
2-23-99
7-14-99
Would different dates be proof of a stolen deck?
6-18-'97
9-21-97
1-21-98
4-1-98
4-1-’98
4-23-98
8-23-98
1-3-'99
2-23-99
7-14-99
Would different dates be proof of a stolen deck?