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The U.S.A. did not use stamps on a card, but adhesive stamps on the
package, the 'Internal Revenue Stamps'. At some times there were
different stamps used concurrently. Also revenue stamps not explicitly
meant for playing-cards were used for them (and vice versa).
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Above are some of the stamps in use from 1862 to 1883. The text is
'U. S. INTER. REV.' or 'U. S. INTER. REVENUE', 'PLAYING CARDS',
and the value, e.g. 'FOUR - CENTS'.
The value needed depended on the price of the cards.
The stamp was hand-cancelled or stamp-cancelled. |
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These two are from Lawrence & Cohen, with the 2¢ stamp
in use 1865/1866 and the 5¢ stamp 1865 to 1874. | |
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This stamp is from Eagle Card Co., in use 1880 to 1883. | |
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This final shown private die stamp is from Samuel Hart & Co., in use 1866 to 1877.
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This is another stamp in use from 1917 to 1919.
The overprint is the new value '7'.
It was cancelled by S.P.C.CO. (Standard). | |
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These stamps were in use from 1919 to 1924.
Note the '8 Cts.' resp. '8c' overprint!
The left stamp was cancelled by the AD (Dougherty), the right one by
R.P.C.Co. (Russell), both with dated 4-1-19. | |
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This stamp was in use from 1924 to 1929. The text is 'U.S.I.R.', 'PLAYING CARDS', and '10 CENTS'. The stamp was cancelled by W. P. L. CO.
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This stamp is an 'olympic provisional' from 1932.
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This was a stamp in use from 1929 to 1940. The text is 'PLAYING CARDS', '10 CENTS', and 'U.S.INT.REV.'. The stamp was cancelled by K. P. Inc. in 1930. | |
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This stamp was in use from 1940 to 1965.
The text is 'PLAYING CARDS', '1 PACK', and 'U.S.I.R.'.
It was cancelled by A.P.C.CO. (Arrco). | |
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This is another stamp in use from 1940 to 1965. The text is 'PLAYING CARDS', '1 PACK', and 'U.S.INT.REV.'. It was cancelled by E.E.F. CORP. (Fairchild). |
Taxes on playing-cards were abolished in the U.S.A. in 1965. Many manufacturers continued using stamps with their own design to seal the package.
For some time, there also was a stamp for free-of-tax cards.
If I date the cards in the corresponding pack correctly, this is a stamp that was in use c. 1946. |
There existed sealing bands for multiple packs (presumably 12) of playing-cards.
This is part of such a band. You can see the
complete band in reduced size. |
I have also seen a band with a slightly different design, and with the red overprint without a value, just 'Internal Revenue Tax Paid'.
Some states raised an additional tax on playing-cards using stamps on the box. You can see examples on the 'State Taxes' page.