Where did "Bicycle" playing cards come from?

If you're also a fan of another Tampabay.com blog, Ante Up, this one's for you. The United States Playing Card Company prints many brands of playing cards. One of the most common is Bicycle. Chances are you've seen them around: they've been in production since 1885. The company's Web site has a cool history of the cards and the meaning behind the designs.

The Joker – an American invention dating from about 1865 – has made different appearances in the "Bicycle" line. The first type represented a man on a high-wheeled bike. The bicycle later acquired two wheels of normal size. Then followed a series of playing card kings on bikes. These cyclists wheel past a milestone marked "808." Contrary to some opinions, this number has no mystical meaning. It is merely a reference number distinguishing this brand from others (such as "606") by the same company.



[via Dirt Rag Magazine]