The Beginning
  Bicycle Playing Cards These are the most popular cards not only in USA but also all over the world. For more than 100 years they have been a trendsetter in the world of cards. The pictures on the cards remain almost the same since the first deck has been printed. But at the same time an acute observer can see those imperceptible changes, which make Bicycle Playing Cards unique.
  Bicycle Cards are produced by United States Playing Cards Company. The history of the famous gambling product line began in early 1880 when A. O. Russel, one of the owners of The United States Printing Company (yes, it was called just so in those days), introduced to his partners an idea of manufacturing playing cards. The partners liked it and added two additional stores to their building on Race Street in Cincinnati, Ohaio specially for that purpose.
  June 28, 1881 is a significant date for all card players the first Bicycle deck was printed that day. Since then they have been manufacturing 1600 packs per. The business appeared to be so profitable that in 1884 it was separated from the Printing Company, and thus The United States Playing Card Company (USPC) appeared. The company bought several other card-printing company and became the leader on the market. 
  By 1900 the company had to move to another building because there was not enough room for the constantly widening production. Now the factory resides in a new factory in Norwood. They built a Neo-Romanesque bell tower above the 4-story (main building entrance in 1926. There was a set of 12 carillon bells built for radio broadcasting there. The company decided to promote the game of bridge by airing bridge lessons. And from 1922 until 1930 they had their own broadcast dedicated to cards. There were no limitations for radio power and those lessons could be heard even in New Zeeland.
A Secret Weapon
  During World War II, the company had a secret deal with the U. S. government. They produced special decks for American prisoners of war in German camps. When these cards were moistened, they peeled apart to reveal sections of a map indicating precise escape routes. Also during the war, USPC provided "spotter" cards, which illustrated the characteristic shapes of tanks, ships and aircraft from the more powerful countries.
  In 1966 during the war in Vietnam two lieutenants wrote to The United States Playing Card Company and requested decks containing nothing but the "Bicycle" Ace of Spades. The cards were useful in psychological warfare. The Viet Cong were very superstitious and highly frightened by this Ace. They regarded lady liberty as a goddess of death. USPC shipped thousands of the requested decks gratis to U.S. troops in Vietnam. These decks were put in the boxes, entitled "Bicycle Secret Weapon" and deliberately scattered in the jungle and in hostile villages during raids. The very sight of the "Bicycle" Ace was said to cause many Viet Cong to flee. 
  In 2003 the company produced the cards featuring Iraqs 52 Most Wanted. The casino-quality playing cards were gallery of Iraqi leadership, ranging from Saddam Hussein (ace of spades) to less famous members of his regime like scientist Huda Salih Mahdi Ammash (five of hearts). These have been shipped to American soldiers to help them in their hunt for Iraqi leadership.
  Now the company continues producing the world famous cards and after being acquired by many different owners it has returned to its Cincinnati roots.
Some Notes On Cards And Bikes
  The Joker card is an American invention dating from about 1875. Its image has changed several times. The first type represented a man on a high-wheeled bike. Then he rode a bike with two Norman wheels. Then followed a series of playing card kings on bikes. These cyclists wheel past a milestone marked "808." Its not a lucky or mystical number but just the number of the series.
  By the way the modernization of bikes is what USPC is famous for. On the picture you can see the traditional "rider back" from a deck of Bicycle playing cards, a double-ended design showing a cherub riding a bicycle. The second picture is a more modern version of a bicycle design from a two-deck set of Bicycle Euchre playing cards. "For over a century Bicycle has created new card back designs reflecting the changes in bicycles. Mountain Bike is the latest design in the Bicycle tradition," it is stated on the box.
