Playing Cards Manufactured by Lawrence and Cohen, 184 Williams Street, New York

A nearly complete deck of playing cards (32 cards plus one blank card) manufactured by Lawrence and Cohen at 184 Williams Street, New York, circa 1860. This is a rare Keno deck, with each suit starting with an Ace and proceeding to Seven through King, without numbered cards. The cards represent a brief period after the death of Lewis I. Cohen in 1860, when the company was managed by his son Solomon L. Cohen and nephew John M. Lawrence, before the name changed to Lawrence & Cohen in 1864. The Ace of Spades displays the company name and address. Lewis I. Cohen, born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania in 1800, was a pioneer in American pencil and steel pen manufacturing, and introduced mechanized color printing to playing card production in 1835. He published his first deck in 1832. In 1854, he retired, leaving the business to Solomon and John, who continued the "Stars and Eagle" brand. On December 5th, 1871, Lawrence and Cohen, along with Samuel Hart and Isaac Levy of "Samuel Hart & Co." (Philadelphia) and John J. Levy, formed the New York Consolidated Card Company.

Associated People/Businesses

• Cohen, Solomon L. / Lawrence, John M.

Geography

No geographic information available.

Subjects

• Playing cards
• Card games
• Printing
• New York (N.Y.)--History

Physical Location

Arc.MS.56, Objects Box 2