Spotlight Interview with Antique Deck Collector Kevan Seaney

🂡🂱🃑🃁

In this post, we will get an inside look into everyone's favorite antique deck expert and collector Kevan Seaney's collection and learn a little bit more about vintage and antique playing cards such as Congress Playing Cards. 

In fact, Kevan is widely known in the playing card collecting community as "The Congress Guy" given his mastery about everything there is to know about Congress decks. Kevan is an active member of the playing card community, and he was my go-to guy when I needed help figuring out the year in which a few of my Congress cards were printed. If you're also actively collecting vintage and antique playing cards, especially Congress, Kevan is fantastic resource for all your questions you may have. 

You can find photos, videos, and facts about Kevan's collection on his Instagram, @the.congress.guy, Facebook, The Congress Guy, and Youtube Channel.

Here is an additional link to Kevan's website where you can view all his pictures here.

Side note: If you're thinking about starting your own collection of vintage/antique playing cards, here's a quick read on the International Playing-Card Society's website on the History of Playing Cards.

↞↞↞↞↞↞↞↞↞↞↞↞  ↠↠↠↠↠↠↠↠↠↠↠↠

Introduction...

Kevan Seaney

♣ What made you first get into collecting antique/vintage playing card decks? ♣ 

"Around 2005, I started venturing to casinos in Indiana and buying a deck or two of cards to use at home. In 2011, I was looking for an old deck of cards to use in my family/friends poker club. I found an old French deck by B.P. Grimaud from the 1910s on eBay for $30. When I got the deck in the mail and opened it, it looked like it had never been used! I went back to eBay and found a Congress 606 deck featuring the Statue of Liberty and flags from several nations dating to 1917. This deck would eventually begin my obsession with Congress playing cards."

1917 Congress 606 "Liberty" Deck

♣ How long have you been collecting for? ♣ 

"My first antique decks were purchased in 2011. I started getting serious in 2016."

♣ Approximately how many decks do you currently own? ♣ 

"I have a total of +/- 230 decks, about 50% of which are vintage/antique."

♣ What is your go-to site for picking up antique/vintage decks? ♣

"eBay! When I see a deck I want, I go after it!"

♣ What is the oldest deck that you currently own? ♣

"I have a Congress Geometric back deck, purple with gold ink, dated to around 1883. It is in EX to EX- condition and has much of the gold edges still intact!"

1883 Congress Geometric Back Deck (Purple with gold ink)

Ace of Spades of 1883 Congress Geometric Back Deck Pictured Above

and the "Dundreary" Joker (character from "Our American Cousin")

♣ What resources do you use to learn more about antique/vintage playing cards? ♣

"52 plus joker members, some private collectors, my dad (he’s an expert on National Card Company Indianapolis and New York), and publications like the American Stationer, where ads can be found to help date certain decks."

♣ What do you typically look for when deciding on your next antique card deck purchase? ♣

"I am currently trying to collect one of every Congress back design from 1881-1930. My dad and I have done our research and have identified over 360 different backs with names, and are trying to identify 3 or 4 from that list here. So I go to the list when trying to buy/bid."

♣ Do you have any fun facts about any of the decks you currently own? ♣

"I have a deck from 1906 [see 'featured photos below' for more photos and story] that appears to be a gift from an uncle to a niece. Within 4 hours we found out who they were, and when and where they lived and died, and what the niece did for a career."

"I also have a deck from around 1885 that is 1 of 16 known to have come on the market in the last 10 years. Truly a very rare item!"

"Lighthouse", ca.1885

♣ What’s your best piece of advice for those who want to collect antique/vintage decks? ♣

"Get the Hochman Encyclopedia of American Playing Cards. It’s a great tool in identifying and learning a little bit about the card manufacturers of the day. Collect some decks of many different makers, or concentrate on one brand. Talk to antique collectors on Instagram or Facebook groups. We have a wealth of knowledge and most are eager to share it (like me!)."

Note to Readers:

Another great resource you can use to learn all about the history of playing cards and manufacturers is The World of Playing Card's Website. I have linked a few attributions for references to manufacturers and decks already, so feel free to explore their website!

⬳⬳⬳⬳⬳⬳⬳⬳⟿⟿⟿⟿⟿⟿⟿⟿

Featured Photos from Kevan...

"I won this Congress 606 'Priscilla' deck on eBay about 2 years ago, and I asked the seller if he had any information about the note I found attached to the inside portion of the box. He had no idea it was even there and said he got it from a friend who found the deck at a yard sale in Kansas City ([the] seller was from another town in Missouri)."

"Inscription reads: 'Priscilla at her wheel -'" 

⥦

"'To Clara M. Robertson'"

"'From Uncle John'"

"'Rochester June 21, 1906'"

"'(South Berwick, ME, January 23, 1823)'".

"I sent what information I had to my dad (and fellow 52 Plus Joker member) Dave Seaney, as I could not fully read the writing. Within 4 hours, he helped me obtain all of the information listed here through his network of genealogy groups."

"Clara Morse Jones (née Robertson) born June 11, 1871 in Cuyahoga County, OH, and died March 15, 1950 in Kansas City, MO. She married Gould E. Jones [on] June 26, 1907. Clara was a schoolteacher at Washington High School in Kansas City, and Gould was in real estate. They had no kids."
"Uncle John Marr was born in South Berwick, ME on January 23, 1823. He lived in Rochester, NY according to the 1900 census. He died in 1916 in Cuyahoga County, OH."

"Could this deck have been an engagement present? In 1906, this deck cost 50 cents, or $13.98 today."

Social card party themed ad, ca.1906

Congress ad, ca.1905

"These are original magazine ads that I own..." 

1903

1903

1903 Holidays

1903

"How can you tell which is a 606 and 404? Here's one way..."

"404 Congress box, 1880s
Silver ink (Not mine)."

"606 Congress box, 1880s
Gold ink."

"'Yacht'" with special "named" or 'matching' joker.

These combinations are the most desired decks for Congress collectors

outside of the early lacquer designs."

"I call this the 'de-evolution of the Ace of Spades'.

Dates range from 1883 to the 1960s."

Thanks...

A special thanks to Kevan for sharing all his photos and knowledge about vintage and antique decks and, of course, helping me with edits and captions for the photos. Be sure to follow Kevan on his social media platforms (linked above) to keep up with all his latest posts about Congress decks! I hope that this interview either encourages or solidifies our fellow card collecting community members interest in vintage and antique decks as there's always interesting story behind these treasures, as Kevan so kindly shared some with us.