These playing cards and card box were manufactured at a Russel and Morgan Factory for the U.S. Playing Card Co. in Cincinnati, Ohio in the United States. I do not know when they were made, presumbly between the 1930s and the early 1950s. The cards were made for recreational purposes and the box was manufactured to hold the cards. They were made for anyone who enjoys or needs a deck of playing cards. The ownership pattern of this deck pf cards probably went from the manufacturer, to the delivery person, to the retail store, who then sold the deck of cards to the purchaser.

The gloss from the thin cardboard box has somewhat faded off through time along with the condition of the cards. The condition of the cards has deteriorated through time. They were originally shiny and crisp. As they aged from time and were used for recreational purposes, they faded, tore, discolored, and became worn and fragile.

There is a print and pattern on the outside of the box. All sides have some sort of pattern. It seems to be white with a blue print that forms the designs and lettering. The background color, white, is dirty and off colored throughout nearly the entire box. The blue ink seems to have ran onto the white as well. The resulting background color is off white -- yellowish; and greenish from the blue ink.

There is quite a bit of lettering on the box. The front of the box reads, The U.S. Playing Card Co. and Tangent Back Playing Cards. There is a pattern very similar to the pattern on the card [shown below] around the text. This pattern is found around all of the text on the box. 808 Bicycle is written along the side of the box. The back of the box has quite a bit of text as well. It reads 808 Air Cushion Finish Playing Cards and U.S. Playing Card Co., Cincinnati, U.S.A.; Russel and Morgan Factories. Also on the back of the box, is a king riding a bicycle.

The cards themselves are made of a thinner cardboard [than the box] and arevery worn and dirty. They look really old and "used." This is typical of a deck of cards that children would have aquired from their parents. The face of the cards is very much like the face of cards seen today. The face and back are both very faded and worn. The deck is full -- 52 cards. One card, the 3 of clovers is torn on the top left hand corner. For the most part, the deck is in tact.

The indended role for these cards is to use them for game playing. Games like Poker, Solitare, and Bridge require cards like these. Unintended roles for these cards have evolved as well. They can be used for nearly any purpose. People use them with magic card tricks, as frisbees, toy contruction, decoration, etc.

This deck of cards is Bicycle Brand. The cards themselves have a Tangent back and are Air Cushioned. They were manufactured by the U.S. Playing Card Comany at a Russel and Morgan Factory in Cincinnati, OH. The time or date of production is unknown; however, one can assume they were made between the 1930s to 1950s. These playing cards are authentic. An artifact from the Greenbelt Museum located in Greenbelt, MD, these playing cards are a component of daily recreation for members of Historical Greenbelt. These cards are very inexpensice to make. In the year, 1949, the Sears Catalog sold cards similar to these for under $1.00. There would be little reason for someone to claim these playing cards to be of Bicycle Brand when they are not.

This deck of playing cards is a good example of its kind. The deck is complete -- all 52 cards are present. They are attractive as far as playing cards go. The "Tangent" pattern looks European and pretigious. But, it is very much like that of other playing cards.

The playing cards can be used to play card games, to perform card tricks, and to use as toys or decoration. People are engaging in recreational activities when using these playing cards. They act as a vehicle of delight; for people are relaxing, playing and enjoying themselves, when using these playing cards. The playing cards do not indicate any social status for the people using them. Cards have always been inexpensive and available to people of all income brackets. The fact that they are ery worn may imply that someone who couldn't afford to always keep a "fresh" deck lying around. By playing cards one is enhancing their thinking and planning skills, learning techniques and methods of relaxation.

The significance of this deck of playing cards today is vast. The game of cards has stood the test of time and remains as a popular form of recreation today. This deck allows present day people to see how Americans kept occupied before the days of television and video games.