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Poker - It

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James Armstrong, Robert Morgan, John Robinson Jr., and A. O. Russell started a

printing business in 1867 in Cincinnati, Ohio. At that time they were printing

circus posters, theater posters, and labels. In 1880 they decided to manufacture

playing cards and their first deck rolled off the presses on June 28, 1881. In 1891

the name of the firm was changed to The United States Printing Company and in

1894 The United States Playing Card Company was spun off as a separate

company.

The box and the Ace of Spades identify the year the deck was printed. The

Congress brand has been produced since 1881.