Just like the "Joker of the Month" in the Jokers section we will select a "Deck of the Month" from all the decks that we could add to our collection during that month. It will be what we consider our best find. We've started this section in April 2007 and without any doubt we can say here that over the years there will be antique, vintage and modern decks shown on these pages. Age, design and value of the chosen decks may be very different each time.

June 2024

	The Joker of the Month May came from a deck, which we had bought before that section was started in March 2004. This Deck of the Month was bought in 2001, so years before we started this section in 2007. I came across it when I was preparing for the Collectors Day at the Turnhout Museum early this month and thought it would be worth showing here. So, introducing here.... "The Stage No. 65x".

There are 2 versions of the deck: one with a single index in 2 corners (Hochman SE3) and one with an index and the denomination of the courts written in full in the large pip in the 2 corners (Hochman SE4). We liked that version better and were able to buy this deck on Ebay in November 2001. The deck was printed by the U.S. Playing Card Co. from Cincinnati and published in 1896. According to the Hochman both decks were produced until 1900, but apparently still sold somewhat later. Our deck came in a box with a tax stamp, which was canceled in 1901.

Each of the courts and aces shows 4 circular pictures of different Stage Stars, set against a similar, classical designed figure per denomination. The WOPC site shows 8 courts from the single index version and there are a few more differences between the 2 versions than just the written denomination. There's a different colour scheme used in the similar designed background figures. Most apparent on the sword of the Kings, here embellished with a green stem with light green leaves, which is done in red with dark green leaves in the single indexed version. Also, on the Queen of Spades a different picture of Mrs. Leslie Carter is used, on the Queen of Hearts a different picture of Mrs. Potter and on the Queen of Diamonds a different picture of Jessie Bartlett-Davis. In the Hochman this was noticed too: "As both of these decks were made until 1900 there may be a change or two in the photo's on either deck". Because the WOPC only shows 8 courts I can't check if the changes were confined to pictures only or that maybe a new stage star was introduced too.

As said, the deck shows pictures of actors and actresses, who were well known by the public from the roles they played on stage. No movie stars in this deck, which can be explained by the fact that the first silent movie was introduced to the American public about the same time that this deck was released. Sound wasn't added until the late 1920's. But in 1896 there hadn't been time for movie actors to become known to the public. It took 20 years before the first Movie Stars Souvenir (USPC) was published by M.J. Moriarty. Going to a theatre to see a play was still such a popular pastime, that in 1908 a second Stage Stars was published. However, with a completely different layout and design and showing a different star on each of the 52 cards. 

Because some of the names are hard to read, I've added all the names in full above and below the cards. Of course for us these names have lost their meaning, these stars have faded a long time ago. I could have given you a description of each star, but I'll leave that up to you. If you see an interesting name, feel free to google it. Adding actor or actress to the name should bring a result. 
I've done this for Roland Reed (JS) and Yvette Guilbert (AD). Click either of their portraits above to read about their lives.

Nat E. Goodwin / Robert Mantell	Mrs. Leslie Carter / Julia Marlowe-Taber	Robert Taber / Frederick Warde
Wilton Lackaye / James O'Neil	Julia Arthur / Georgia Cayvan	Melbourne Mac Dowell / Roland Reed

Tony Pastor / Thomas W. Keene	Fanny Davenport / Helena Modjeska	Maurice Barrymore / Chauncey Olcott
Jas. A. Herne / Stuart Robson	Ellen Terry / Mrs. Potter	Henry E. Dixey / Walter Jones

B.E. Graham / Louis Harrison	Miss Billie Barlowe / Nellie McHenry	Jos. Holland / E.M. Holland	Yvette Guilbert / Loie Fuller
William Collier / Neil Burgess	Dorothy Morjon / Anna Boyd	Henry Kellar / Albert Chevalier	Minnie French Evans / May Irwin

Francis Wilson / Frank Daniels	Camille D'Arville / Anna Held	Otis Harlan / Chas. H. Hopper
De Wolf Hopper / Jefferson De Angelis	Edna Wallace-Hopper / Effie Ellsler	Charles Evans / William Hoey

Wm. H. Crane / Joseph Murphy	Della Fox / Caroline Miskel Hoyt	John Kernell / James Powers
Sol Smith Russell / Denman Thompson	Lillian  Russell / Jessie Bartlett-Davis	Henry V. Donnelly / Edward Girard

The deck consists of 52 cards and the joker with a portrait of Marshall P. Wilder. All with solid gold edges.