Bicycle Cards

Whether you’re a magician who needs cards that handle well or a beginner card flourisher, Bicycle cards are a great choice. These playing cards are printed on standard poker-size stock, which gives them a smooth feel and are easy to shuffle. They also have an excellent reputation for durability. Bicycle cards are also a popular choice among collectors.

Founded as Russell Morgan & Co in 1867, the United States Playing Card Company introduced its iconic ‘Bicycle’ brand of playing cards in 1885. Named for the high-wheeled bicycles of the time, they soon became known for their quality and design.

Since then, Bicycle cards have been used by everyone from magicians to poker players. Many decks feature different back designs and jokers, making them more visually interesting than most other playing cards. In fact, the early editions of these cards are now highly sought after by collectors.

During World War II, Bicycle worked with government agencies to help American prisoners escape from German camps. This was accomplished by sending packs of cards that could be hidden inside other Red Cross packages, without the enemy noticing. Each pack included a map that could be peeled off the outer layer of the cards, and would lead to a secret route out of the prison camp.

The USPCC is the biggest producer of playing cards in the country, and the Bicycle brand of cards is its most popular line. The cards are a great choice for beginners, as they cost less than a custom deck and perform the same as a more expensive set. However, some professional card handlers have reported that older Bicycle decks with a blue seal, printed before the USPCC moved to Erlanger, Kentucky in 2009, do not handle as well as the new black-seal decks.