Posted 10 years ago
jcorne201
(1 item)
1903 congress playing cards the box says game of 500, it has 2 decks. The cards are in perfect condition, box not so much but i am wondering what they might be worth, the numbers on the aces are F 85 then the other is 3-9-l
im not wanting to sell, im just trying to figure out a possible worth of the game
Searching ebay sold items should give you an idea.
scott
I tried ebay but could not find the same kind of cards, or even the name game of 500
Thanks for the input. Do you know if they are worth anything??
This is a good find especially with the jokers matching the backs. The Congress decks with matching jokers were few and far between and generally worth more as those designs were also published without those special jokers but with the standard Congress joker. They are also of high interest to collectors who just collect jokers. Value depends on a few things - if the deck is mint with shiny gold edges you have two gems and if the box is an original Congress box even slightly used these decks would each be worth somewhere between 150 and 200 at least. The second deck is titled Holland and if it has the back image on the joker the name should be there.
Just realised that you do not have the Congress box, but are both decks in the 500 box? If so do they both have 52 cards plus the jokers, (only one issued in that period). 500 is actually a different deck published by this company. Is it possible to see the front of this box?
PS Riply206 - you sound pretty expert to me!
Cardlover the last pic is the box that i found them in, its in bad shape, but the cards are perfect, and that box is leather wrapped,
ok all 52 cards are in both decks, and both have gold edges. Both decks are also in order, like they have never been used, but its weird cause the pages in the book to keep score some are gone. this thing even has the original pencil and the 2 cards that tell you your ponits for the game 500, and auction bridge table of contents
ok so if i wanna sell them where would i go. sorry guys i just dont know where to go to do any of this, i would to ebay but probably wouldnt get what they are worth
I believe you will get what they are worth on ebay. However take much better and clearer pictures as I personally wouldn't buy anything I couldn't see clearly. I hope both decks have jokers and do show them as well as a clear photo of the edges. Describe them carefully!
Good luck
Your Congress 606 picture back deck "CAVALIER" with matching Joker is depicted in a USPCC promo pamphlet TART RHYMES circa 1899-1904, boasting the manufacture of over 2,500 kinds of playing cards. The Ace of Spades is a US6e (Hochman Encyclopedia of American Playing Cards) circa 1899-1922. A "named" Joker, as noted by Cardlover, is extremely rare, increasing the value of your +/- $75 deck to +/- $250. The "F-85" on the Ace of Spades is a print run number. According to the USPCC "F" were first run in 1924 and every 20 years thereafter.
As for the game 500, it's a game played by 2 to 6 people. The number of cards used vary from 24 (9-Ace) for two players to 60 (full deck with added 11 and 12 spot cards) for 6 players. The cards rank as in Euchre or in some locations Whist. The first player to make 500 points wins. (Source: Hill's vest pocket Hoyle A Book of Card Games copyright 1900).
Hope this helps . . .