• Vintage 1941 Poker rules booklet by US Playing Card Company with bold red spade cover. Clean, lightly used example. COVER
  • Vintage 1941 Poker rules booklet by US Playing Card Company with bold red spade cover. Clean, lightly used example. Copyright Page
  • Vintage 1941 Poker rules booklet by US Playing Card Company with bold red spade cover. Clean, lightly used example. Title Page
  • Vintage 1941 Poker rules booklet by US Playing Card Company with bold red spade cover. Clean, lightly used example. Table of Contents
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United States Playing Card Company

Poker: Official Rules and Suggestions for Players

Poker: Official Rules and Suggestions for Players

$25.00 USD
$25.00 USD
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AT A GLANCE

Title:
Poker: Official Rules & Suggestions for Players
Publisher:
The United States Playing Card Company
Subject:
Poker rules and gameplay
Era:
Early 20th Century (1900 - 1945)
Date:
1941 (1st edition)
Origin:
Cincinnati, Ohio
Dimensions:
4 ½" x 7"
Condition:
Very Good (VG)
Cover:
Softcover
Pages:
64
OCLC:
3343926
Book genre:
Gaming Book | Rule Book
Notes:
Red cover with black spade; slogan “The Nation’s Most Fascinating Card Game”

1941 Poker Rule Book — Striking Red Cover with Bold Spade Design

Collector’s Note

Early poker rule books—especially those issued by the United States Playing Card Company—are collected for both their practical gaming history and their bold, graphic design. Clean, lightly used examples like this are increasingly harder to find.

Issued in 1941 by The United States Playing Card Company, this compact guide— Poker: Official Rules & Suggestions for Players—captures the structure, etiquette, and variations of poker during a formative period in American gaming culture.

The standout feature is its striking red cover, dominated by a large black spade and the bold slogan: “The Nation’s Most Fascinating Card Game.” The design is simple, graphic, and unmistakably mid-century—making it as appealing visually as it is historically.

Inside, the book presents clearly organized sections covering gameplay fundamentals, variations, betting structure, and official rules, reflecting how poker was taught and standardized in the early 20th century. This piece works beautifully as:

  • A reference artifact for card game enthusiasts
  • A display piece for game rooms or bar décor
  • A giftable vintage curiosity for poker players

The United States Playing Card Company

Founded in the 19th century and headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, The United States Playing Card Company became the dominant American producer of playing cards. Originally established as Russell, Morgan & Co., the company expanded from commercial printing into playing cards in the 1880s—eventually shaping how card games like poker were packaged, marketed, and standardized across the United States

This vintage softcover book is in very good condition, with a tight binding and clean interior pages that appear lightly used or possibly unused. The primary signs of age are visible as light shelf wear to the covers, including minor edge wear and surface rubbing. A well-preserved example overall.

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