Playing Card Company in 2004, which began to produce KEM-inspired cards two years later. Though the copyright was sold, KEM cards continued to be popular and was the official playing card brand used by the World Series of Poker from 2007 to 2016. KEM cards also became the standard design among poker players, with the company’s distinctive blue and red arrows becoming one of the most recognizable in the business. After 70 years of dominance in the playing card industry, KEM Cards sold its copyrights to the U.S. This innovation made KEM cards a go-to for rowdy poker players, and their durability quickly made them popular. Their popularity increased during the Second World War when soldiers found that the cards were capable of enduring harsh environments such as humid jungles or desert sands. This meant they were able to be washed and bent without losing their shape or color, like paper cards. Today, Bicycle Playing Cards continue to sell well and are known for including their signature trademarks on the Ace of Spades card. Bicycle produces many different types of playing cards, including themed cards, tarot cards, and other card games.Ī younger company than Bicycle Playing Cards, KEM Cards began producing playing cards in the early 1930s. However, they had a historical advantage in one respect due to their manufacturing method, which made the KEM Playing Card the first mass-produced plastic playing card in history. Government to send specially fabricated decks of cards to American prisoners of war in Germany, which contained secret maps of escape routes hidden within them. During the war, Bicycle partnered with the U.S.

In 1894, Bicycle’s playing card business had increased so dramatically that it was made into an entirely separate corporation, The United States Playing Card Company. In the century that followed, Bicycle Playing Cards continued to explode in popularity and even played roles in historical events such as World War II. Russell’s suggestion to combat the monopolizing of the playing card industry. Robinson Jr., who named it “Russell, Morgan & Co.” The company, founded in Cincinnati, Ohio, got its start printing various advertisements, such as posters for theaters and circuses, and began producing playing cards in 1881 at A.O. Bicycle Playing Cards are by far the most popular playing cards in the world. The company that produces them was founded in 1867 by A.O.

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