The Union Cards Playing Card Deck Collection consists of one set of 52 “Union” playing cards and the original box produced by the American Card Co. of New York City in 1862. The deck of cards appealed to the patriotism of consumers in the North during the early years of the American Civil War. The publishers replaced the traditional European playing card suits and symbols with imagery associated with the United States of America. The cards substitute eagles, shields, stars, and flags in place of clubs, spades, hearts, and diamonds; and the cards substitute Colonel, Goddess of Liberty, and Major in place of King, Queen, and Jack. The colors of the suits are blue and red instead of the traditional black and red.

The pull-top box explained:

“THE AMERICAN CARD CO. Confident that the introduction of NATIONAL EMBLEMS in place of Foreign, in PLAYING CARDS, will be hailed with delight by the American People, take pleasure in presenting the UNION PLAYING CARDS. As the first and only Genuine American Cards ever produced, in the fullest confidence that the time is not far distant when they will be the leading Card in American market.

Explanation, The Union Cards are calculated to play all the Games for which the old style of Playing Cards are used. The suits are EAGLES, SHIELDS, STARS, and FLAGS, GODDESS OF LIBERTY in place of Queen, COLONEL for King, MAJOR for Jack. In playing with these Cards, they are to be called by the names the emblems represent, and as the Emblems are as familiar as household words, everywhere among the American people, they can be used as readily the first occasion as Cards bearing Foreign emblems.”

The top cover of the box reads: “Something new in the card world! Time for a change! Foreign Emblems used long enough in the U.S. Nationality Everything!! National Emblems!”

The bottom of the box reads: “Entered according to act of Congress in the year 1862 by Benj. W. Hitchcock. In the clerk’s office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of New York.”

The pip cards contain only the appropriate number of pips with no Arabic numbers. The aces of each suit contain one pip with the exception of the Ace of Eagles, which includes an illustration with the imprint of the publisher.

The backs of the cards are printed in blue with an image of a shield, several flags, a star, an anchor, and leaves with acorns against a decorative background.

The box includes a two-cent Washington revenue stamp.