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TIENTSIN CLUB, TIENTSIN — CUSTOM PLAYING CARDS WITH ORIGINAL BOX
Undated; probably 1920s. Maker unconfirmed.
An unusual surviving deck bearing the name and monogram of the Tientsin Club in Tientsin, now Tianjin, China. Includes all 52 standard playing cards, one club-named joker incorporating an sale Bridge Table of Points, and the matching original printed box: 53 cards in total.
The red backs feature a detailed geometric and floral pattern with two opposed ornamental cartouches enclosing the interlaced initials “TC.” The same monogram appears within the large central spade on the ace of spades. Both the joker and box carry the wording “Tientsin Club / Tientsin.”
HISTORICAL CONTEXT
The deck recalls the social life of treaty-port Tientsin, where foreign residents maintained clubs for recreation, reading, and cards. A contemporary account by U.S. Consul David C. Berger, published in the May 1927 Foreign Service Journal, specifically mentions bridge tables in the city’s clubs and the library of the Tientsin Club.
The included joker is a particularly appealing feature. Its sale-bridge scoring table records a form of the game that preceded the widespread adoption of modern contract bridge, with trick values ranging from six points for clubs to ten for no trump.
SCARCITY AND ARCHIVAL REFERENCE
An apparently scarce club-specific issue. Extensive research undertaken for this listing and consultation with sale houses have not located a verified sale of an identical deck.
UNLV Special Collections lists two entries titled “Unknown publisher, Tientsin Club, undated” within the Harrah’s Entertainment Corporate Archives, collection MS-00460, Box 109. These provide an institutional reference to Tientsin Club material within the collection; the catalog descriptions do not establish whether those examples match this particular design or edition.
The combination offered here—club-monogrammed cards, named sale-bridge joker, and matching box—makes this an interesting piece for collectors of historic playing cards, bridge memorabilia, and Tianjin’s treaty-port history. No claim is made that it is unique or that a surviving population is known.
ACE OF SPADES CODE: H1904
The ace of spades bears the printed code “H1904,” shown clearly in the photographs. Its letter-plus-four-digit format is consistent with production codes used by the United States Playing Card Company and certain associated manufacturers.
In the published USPCC dating chart, the letter H corresponds to several years, including 1926 and 1946. If that coding system applies to this deck, 1926 is a plausible attribution in conjunction with its sale-bridge table and overall presentation. However, the code alone cannot distinguish those dates, and neither the exact manufacturing year nor the maker has been conclusively established.
The digits “1904” should not be read as the year of manufacture. They appear to form the numerical portion of the production code; their precise meaning has not been established for this deck.
CONDITION
Cards are in very good overall condition, with clear printing and strong colors. The six of spades has a slight bend/crease at its upper-left corner. Otherwise, no notable wear has been observed on inspection. The cards have a cream tone, as illustrated.
The original box shows more wear than the cards, including rubbing, age toning, creasing, and tears/splits around the opening and edges. Please examine the photographs for the condition of the box and cards.
Included: 52 standard playing cards, one sale-bridge joker, and the matching Tientsin Club box. The photographed deck and box are the items offered.
