1880s Tiger Stamp for Playing Cards

Wordless Wednesday

Tiger on U.S. playing card stamp, c. 1881–1883.

Private die playing card stamp of Russell, Morgan & Co.,

creators of the “Tigers No. 101” brand of playing cards.

For part of the nineteenth century, the U.S. government

taxed playing cards. Manufacturers could create their

own stamps, like this one featuring a fearsome tiger.

Image scanned and processed by A. Sdobnikov

(Personal collection)

[Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons.