Playing cards

Application filed April 11, 1930, Serial No. 443,283. Renewed August 19, 1932.

This invention relates to playing cards, and has particular reference to cards of the character used in the playing of competitive games, such as auction and contract bridge. 5 Heretofore the dealing of a series of predetermined hands has been made possible, for example, by providing the backs of the cards with suitable indices indicative of the players, designated for convenience as “North” io “South” “East” and “West”, to whom the cards are to be dealt in the different hands, so that the combined skill of the partners “North-South” and “East-West” may be determined by comparing the respective part15 nership scores with a par value assigned to the respective hands after an expert analysis thereof.

Peculiar to the above-mentioned prior practice are many inherent disadvantages, 15 among which the following are of a particularly serious nature: First, a given deck of cards is limited to a relatively few predetermined hands by reason of the fact that the area of each card is sufficiently large to car25 ry or accommodate only a relatively few indices, thus making it necessary to provide different printing plates for each series in the manufacture, with the result that the cost of manufacturing is highly expensive if not CJ totally prohibitive from a practicable standpoint; second, the inconvenience of dealing the cards to the players has been found to not only distract the dealer but to also result in mental fatigue, due to the effort required C7 in concentrating upon the task of dealing with the view to nroperlv interpreting the indices so as to avoid confusion and insure proper allotment of the cards to the intended players; third, by reason of the fact that the <5 indices heretofore employed have been such as to characterize the backs of the cards, it has been found possible for a player to mentally note such characteristics in connection with the respective face values of the cards •-1 and thus accurately determine the face values of certain, if not all, cards held by the remaining players.

The general object of this invention is to overcome the above objections, so that as many predetermined hands may be dealt from a given deck of cards as there are possible different hands in such deck; so that cards of the predetermined hands may be easily, accurately and expeditiously allotted to the several players without distracting the dealer 65 or subjecting him to menial fatigue; and, so that it will be impossible for a player to determine the face value of any card from an observance of the back thereof.

To the above ends the invention contem- co plates, for use with a given deck of cards, as many index or selector sheets as there are to be predetermined hands in such deck, each index sheet being provided with fifty-two or more apertures simulating arrows pointing C5 each in one of four directions and some of which are located, respectively, in one of two possible positions; the apertures of each index sheet that is superimposed upon a pack of cards, designed for use in the practicing 70 of this invention and having uncolored field areas surrounded by colored background areas, being so related to the colored and uncolored areas of each card in dealing position immediately beneath the index sheet that 75 through only one apertpre, namely, the one indicative of the player to whom the card next to be dealt is allotted, will a colored area appear, the cards together with the respective index sheets being held within a 80 suitable dealing device to facilitate dealing and to insure accurate registration of such index sheet with each card next to be dealt.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the fol- 85 lowing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which—

Figure 1 is a face view of a templet employed in evolving a design for a master card to be used in photographically producing a ⁹⁰standard set of printing plates for printing the designs on the backs of the fifty-two cards of a deck; Figure 2 is a face view of a master card having a partially completed design thereon; Figure 3 is a similar view of the ⁹⁵master card with the design completed and readv for exposure in the making of printing plates to be used in the printing of the designs on the backs of the playing cards; Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmental face view ¹⁰⁰

1,887,203 cording to a suitable station schedule, such as follows:

Station schedule of a portion of the master card in the vicinity of a station corresponding to the deuce or spades; Figure 4—-A is a face view of a mask to be used in connection with the master _ card of Figure 3 in exposing it preparatory ’ to'the making of a printing plate for the back of the deuce of spades; Figure 4—B is a similar view to that of Figure 4 and showing the mask of Figure A—A superimposed over the station corresponding to the deuce of ^υ spades; Figure 4—C is a view similar to that of Figure 4—B and showing the mask inked in preparatory to exposure; Figure 5 is a back view of a card showing the design proj. duced thereon from a plate resulting from the exposure of the master card of Figure 3 j ‘ ¹_α

4—C; Figure 6 is a face view of aft index sheet adapted to be used in the dealing of a .,₀ predetermined hand so that the cards intend“ ed for the several players may be properly allotted; Figure 7 is a view of the obverse side of the index sheet of Figure 6; Figure 8 is a plan view of a dealing device adapted to receive an index sheet and a deck of cards, and to be used; in dealing the cards to the players according to the effective indices of such index sheet; Figure 9 is a view in elevation of the dealing device as seen from the right in Figure 8; Figure 10 is a central longitudinal sectional view taken on line 10—10 of Figure 8; and Figure 11 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 11—11 of Figure 8.

In producing the designs for the backs of the fifty-two cards of a pack to be employed in the practicing of this invention, it is necessary to provide a like number of printing plates, inasmuch as the designs differ from each other, although the differences are so slight and are so characterized by the general designs of the cards as to preclude the possibility of detection, except after tedious study, necessitating, for example, accurate linear measurements of certain portions of the designs and careful comparisons of the measurements noted.

The fifty-two printing plates are photographically produced, on a reduced scale, from a single master card 15 in conjunction with masks to be hereinafter more particularly described, the master card being preferably several times larger than the respective cards of the deck. The design of this master card is produced with the aid of a templet 16, which is the same size as the master card and is provided at one end with a plurality of openings which are numbered 1 to 104, inclusive, the openings numbered 77 to 104 being grouped in an outer or marginal zone for the reasons hereinafter stated and the remaining openings being positioned relatively to each other, as one’s best judgment may dictate, in view of the relation of n₄wuu vuc uciu-aica.·) aic ciaacu., iuus card identification numbers to card values ac- producing the finished master card, shown in

Card denominations

2..........

3..........

4..........

5________’...

6..........

7..........

8..........

9..........

10..........

Jack........

Queen.. King....... Ace________

411

Spades

Hearts

Diamonds

Clubs

5

13 17 21

29-30 37-38 45-46 53-54 61-62 69-70

6 10 14 18 22

31-32 39-40 47-48 55-56 63-64 71-72

7 11 15 19 23

33-34 41-42 49-50 57-58 65-66 73-74

8

16

24 28

35-36 43-44 51-52 59-60 67-68 75-76

8?

in conjunction with the masks of Figure . first step in producing the iftaster card ~ ‘ ‘ ‘ ’ is carried out by placing the templet 16 upon the card in exact registration therewith, whereupon, with a suitable instrument such as a pencil, a circle is described on the card at one end thereof through each of the openings of the templet. Having completed the describing of this series oi circles, the templet is turned end-to-end on the master card, whereupon a second series of circles is described with the aid of the templet while it is in exact registration with the master card, the second group of circles being a duplication of the first set, with the result that thus far the design on the card at one side of the transverse medial line thereof is a duplicate of the design thereon at the opposite side of such line.

In proceeding further with the evolution of the intended design of the master card, one or more, as desired, of the circles described with the aid of the templet are enclosed within definite field-areas by drawing lines around the selected circles, as shown in Figure 2. In this connection, it may be remarked that while it is intended that the field-areas at ofte side of the transverse medial line shall not materially deviate from the corresponding areas at the opposite side of such line, in so far as size and contour are concerned, a slight deviation is permissible, and, indeed, desirable for the reason that the ultimate design at one side of the transverse medial line of the respective cards of the deck will be slightly different from the ultimate design at the opposite side of such line, thus introducing a further safeguard against detection of card values by observing the hacks of the cards, inasmuch as such slight discrepancy in design tends to cast an element of doubt in the mind of an observer with respect to the accuracy of any observation that he may attempt to make.

Proceeding further with the evolution of the design of the master card, all background areas enclosed within the border line of the card are inked in, whereupon the circles within the field-areas are erased, thus

CO cc co

11?

12:

1!

r?

1,887,303

Figure 8, ready for successive exposures in connection with certain masks, hereinafter more particularly described, as steps in the production of the necessary fifty-two print. ing plates to be employed in printing the re’’ spective designs on the cards of the deck.

Before exposing the master card 15 in the process of producing printing plates to be used in printing the fifty-two cards of a deck, the above station schedule, wherein are as¹¹¹ signed certain identification numbers to the respective cards, is taken into consideration. From this schedule, it will be noted that numbers ranging from one to seventy-six are as,. signed to the fifty-two cards of a playing ° deck and that in each suit, cards of the order of the two spot to the eight spot, inclusive, are assigned a single identification number and that the remaining cards of the several suits are each assigned two identification numbers, the reason for assignment of single numbers to cards of the lower denominations and for the assignment of two numbers to cards of the higher denominations being hereinafter more particularly explained.

⁰ With the above schedule in mind, let it be assumed that the first exposure of the master card 15 is with the view to producing the printing plate for the back of the card, the ₃₀ suit of which is spade and the denomination ° of which is the deuce. Since the identification number of the deuce of spades is one, the station on the master card corresponding to opening number one of the templet 16 is determined by placing the templet on the master card and describing a circle through such opening upon the field-area of the master card while the templet is in exact registration with that card, whereupon the w templet is turned end-for-end and the same procedure is carried out to determine a similar station on the other side of the transverse medial line of the master card by describing thereon a corresponding circle. The circles 45 indicating these stations are shown within the field-areas A of Figure 3.

Each of the stations thus established is then covered with a mask, such as is shown in Figure 4—A, which overhes the field-areas 50 that are grouped about the station-enclosing areas A and are indicated in the case of one of such stations by the reference characters B, C, D, E, F, and G, the outline of such group of field-areas beneath the mask of 55 Figure 4—B being indicated respectively by dotted lines therein. These masks are of a suitable material, such as paper, and are uncolored, as in the case of the enclosed fieldareas of Figure 3, except for a colored area or 60 location 18 on each, which is the same size as the respective stations over .which these masks are to be placed. In placing the masks over the stations, care is to be exercised in establishing exact registration of their col⁶⁵ ored areas or locations with such stations to insure, proper functioning of the master cards in producing the desired printing plate. With the masks thus positioned, lines 19, as shown in Figure 4—B; are so drawn thereon as to meet and blend with the contour of the · underlying field-areas B, C, D, E, F and G at the edges of the masks and at the same time, in effect, elongate or otherwise modify the contour of such areas, whereupon the area intermediate the colored area 18 and the lines ~ > 19 of each mask is blackened, as shown in Figure 4—C. Thus it will be appreciated that when photographing the master card 15, with the masks thereon and modified as in Figure 4—C, the same photographic effect is ^S(1obtained as though the field-areas grouped about the selected stations were modified, as explained, and the spaces intermediate such stations and such areas were blackened. As a result of photographing the master card ⁸⁵15, together with the masks thereon as described, a printing plate may be obtained which will produce the design shown on the back of the card in Figure 5, viz., the design for the deuce of spades.

The printing plates for the remaining cards of the spade suit up to and including the eight of spades and the cards of the heart, diamond and club suits, respectively, from the deuce to the eight spot, inclusive, are simi- ⁰⁵larly produced, it being borne in mind that the masks are removed after each exposure, and that the masks for each exposure are located on the master card according to the positions of the stations as determined ^l'^,!)through the aid of the templet 16 when employed in accordance with the identification numbers assigned to the respective cards in the respective suits.

Concerning the use of the master card 15 ¹⁰³in producing a printing plate to be used in printing the design on the back of a card of a denomination higher than the eight spot, for example the nine of spades, to which is assigned identification numbers 29 and 30, 110 the templet 16 is employed in connection with the master card as previously described to determine the location of stations 29 and 30 at both sides of the transverse medial line. Inasmuch as two stations are established in IIS connection with this card at each side of the transverse medial line of the master card, two pairs of masks are employed in making the exposure incident to the production of the necessary printing plate. The procedure 120 with these masks is the same as that described in connection with the two masks employed in connection with the exposure incident to the production of the printing plate to be used in producing the design on the back of 125 the deuce of spades. With a printing plate resulting from an exposure of the master card 15 in conjunction with the two pairs of masks thus employed, the design peculiar to the nine of spades may be produced, wherein 130

1,887,308 there will exist two blackened areas at each side of the transverse medial line thereof corresponding to the stations 29 and 30 which were determined by aid of the templet 16 prior to affixing the masks to the master card 15 and prior to modifying such masks so as to, in effect, modify the field-areas surrounding such stations.

From the above, it will be understood that the procedure incident to the producton of printing plates to be employed in printing the designs on the backs of the remaining cards of the spade suit, namely, ten spot to ace, inclusive, and the cards in the order of the nine spot to and including the ace of the heart, diamond and club suits is the same as that described in connection with the plate to be used in printing the design on the back of the nine of spades.

It is to be noted that of the one hundred and four openings in the templet only seventy-six are employed in determining stations, thus leaving openings Nos. 77 to 104 to serve a useful purpose in connection with 25 the index sheets, to be hereinafter more particularly described. Moreover, it will be understood from the above station schedule, when considered in connection with the templet 16 and the manner in which it is em30 ployed to determine the stations for the respective cards, that no two cards of a playing deck will be duplicated in so far as locations of stations are concerned, and that, therefore, an index sheet, may be employed to indicate during a deal to which of the players the respective cards are to be alotted. The indices of each sheet thus employed are prearranged with regard to the stations of the respective cards and are so disposed with respect to direction that they will function, in cooperation with the several stations, to individually indicate the player to whom each card of the deck, over which the index sheet is held, is to be allotted.

In Figures 6 and 7, is shown an index sheet 20 which is of the character hereinbefore mentioned and is preferably made of celluloid. This index sheet is of the same size as the cards employed in the practicing of this invention and is adapted to be introduced, together with a pack of such cards, into a dealing device, hereinafter more particularly described, where it is held against displacement on the top of such pack of cards as they are dealt one-by-one. In order to facilitate dealing of the cards, the index sheet is provided at one end with an oval shaped opening 21, through which the dealer’s thumb may engage the successive cards as they present themselves in dealing position beneath the index sheet with their faces down.

For each deal, one index sheet is employed to make possible the dealing of pre-selected hands according to the intended allotment of the several cards to the respective players, this being accomplished by a plurality of perforations or indices 22, formed in the index sheet at one side of the transverse medial line thereof and hereinafter termed “arrows”. These arrows are formed by a suitable instrumentality, such as a multiple punch and die not shown, and are so located with respect to the stations on the respective cards used in practicing tips invention that a dark or back-ground area of each card will be visible through only one of the arrows. Moreover, these arrows ire so directionally disposed that they will indicate to which of the players, “North”, “East”, “South” and “West”, the respective cards are to be dealt, the effective arrow in each instance being the one through which appears the darkened or background area of the card about to be dealt.

The grouping of the arrows and the respective directional, disposition of the same, shown in Figure 6, is representative of card distribution according to the following effective-arrow schedule, wherein are employed identification numbers according to the sta70 tion schedule hereinbefore set forth: Effective-arrow schedule

<td> South</td><td> West</td><td> North</td><td> East</td>

<td> 17</td><td> 33</td><td> 37</td><td> 69</td>

<td> 13</td><td> 23</td><td> 29</td><td> 61</td>

<td> 39</td><td> 1</td><td> 9</td><td> 45</td>

<td> 14</td><td> 22</td><td> 63</td><td> 21</td>

<td> 10</td><td> 18</td><td> 55</td><td> 5</td>

<td> 6</td><td> 23</td><td> 47</td><td> 71</td>

<td> 73</td><td> 7</td><td> 26</td><td> 31</td>

<td> 37</td><td> 3</td><td> 2</td><td> 41</td>

<td> 49</td><td> 75</td><td> 65</td><td> 27</td>

<td> 31</td><td> 67</td><td> 33</td><td> 19</td>

<td> 33</td><td> 59</td><td> 11</td><td> 15</td>

<td> 28</td><td> 12</td><td> 43</td><td> 24</td>

<td> 16</td><td> 4</td><td> 20</td><td> 8</td>

100

In reading or interpreting the arrows as they become effective one by one during the dealing operation, it is to be taken into account that such i arrows as point down, to the left,up, and to the right, reference being had to Figure 6, are respectively indicative of players designated, for convenience, as “South,” “West” “North” and “East.”

Referring to the index sheet of Figure 6, it will be noted that sixty-one arrows are employed. Of these arrows only fifty-two are effective with regard to stations, there being one effective arrow for each card to be dealt. The remaining nine arrows are located more or less at random about the two side borders and the upper end border of the index sheet, their locations being in correspondence with openings 77, 80, 84, 88, 94, 97, 98,100 and 103 of the templet 16. The directional disposition of these inffective arrows is without consequence, in so far as card allotment is concerned inasmuch as no one of them will at any time register with a darkened or background area of the cards as they are dealt, and hence they may point all in one direction or in another, although it is preferred that they vary in this respect. Here it may be

10S

110

Ilf·

12'

125

130

1,887,303 had to the above station schedule in connection with the numbers appearing within the innermost dotted line on the templet 16 t>f Figure 1, which will establish their respective stations well within the border of the re- 70 spective cards, so that the effective arrows denoting the intended allotment of the cards of higher values will come well within and towards the center of the index sheet. Although it is believed that this expedient will suffice to forestall all attempts at identification of the cards of the higher denominations,there is employed, nevertheless, a further expedient which serves as a safeguard in this connection and resides in the fact that cards of the higher denominations, reference being had to the above station schedule, are each assigned two numbers, from which two stations for each of such cards are developed, it being noted that the arrow for these respective two-station cards may appear on each index sheet at one of two possible positions, by reason of the fact that each arrow concerned with the dealing of cards of such higher denominations may appear at one of two possible positions on each index sheet, and the positions of such arrows relative to one another may be different for each index sheet, thus rendering detection, with regard to such denominations, impossible.

Preparatory to punching the effective as well as the ineffective arrows for the respective index sheets, a punch set-up schedule is formulated, the following one being by way of example and employed in the production of the index sheet of Figure 6.

Punch get-up schedule well to remark that the reason these arrows never function to indicate the direction of a deal is because they lie in a zone outside of , the outermost dotted line, shown on the templet 16 in Figure 1, which zone contains only openings numbered 77 to 104, inclusive, no one of which numbers is assigned to a card, as is obvious from an inspection of the above station schedule, and for no one of which numbers is a station provided on any card of the deck. The real purpose, however, of the ineffective arrows, the grouping as well as the directional disposition of which is preferably different for each index sheet, is to confuse an observer in an attempt to identify certain cards during successive deals by noting the location of the outermost of the effective arrows of the index sheet. In this connection, it may be pointed out that while the ineffective arrows function to stimulate uncertainty in such an attempt at identification, the element of doubt is further intensified by reason of the fact that the directional disposition of the outermost arrows of the effective group changes with the different index sheets, with the result that their locations appear to shift with each successive deal, thus subjecting an observer to what, for certain intents and purposes, are everchanging locations of the arrows.

While it is believed that the above described provisions will suffice in establishing an element of doubt, regarding attempts to identify cards by observing positions and relative positions of the effective arrows of the index sheet, an additional precaution is taken in this connection by assigning only cards of relatively low denominations, namely, the two spot to the eight spot, inclusive, of the several suits, to the outermost portion of the effective-station area, reference being had in this connection to the above station schedule in connection with the area or zone lying intermediate the two dotted lines appearing on the templet 16 in Figure 1. The theory prompting this assignment of low face values is based on the fact that it is reasonable to suppose that a dealer would exert but little, if any, effort in an attempt to identify cards of a more or less trivial nature in so far as face values are concerned, this being especially true in view of the ever present element of doubt resulting from the factors promoting uncertainty, as above described, in the mind of one bent on observation for the purpose of card-value detection. On the other hand, it is reasonable to expect that a dealer, if inclined at all to attempt identification, would exert his efforts in this connection with the view to identifying cards — , of an honor value and possibly as low as the the respective remaining cards, only one nine spot; but, in so far as cards of such val- punch is employed, and this is introduced ties, namely, the nine spot to and including into either one or the other of its possible the ace of the several suits are concerned, sockets, the one selected being in accordance they are assigned numbers, reference being with the effective-arrow schedule as will ap75

100

South

13 39-40

10

73-74 57-58 49-50 51-52 35-36

16 88

100

West

53-54 25

22 18 23

75-76 67-68 59-60

98 84

North

37-38 29-30

63-04 55-56 47-48 26

65-66 33-34

43-44

7'7

103

East

69-70 61-62 45-46 21 5

71-72 31-32 41-42

19 15 24

97 80

To condition the die preparatory to punching the index sheet of Figure 6, a punch is placed in each of the punch sockets bearing a single card identification number according to the above punch set-up schedule, one punch being placed in each socket corresponding to the card identification numbers ranging from the two spot to the eight spot, inclusive, of the several suits. Also, as to

105 no

115

12G

125

130 β 1.887.208 pear by a comparison of that schedule with the above punch set-up schedule. By following this procedure, the punches may be eet up with ease and accuracy, it being taken into account that the respective punches shall be ⁸ directionally disposed according to the heading of the respective columns in the punch set-up schedule (for which headings arrowlike indices pointing, respectively, down, to the left, up, and to the right, may be substi¹⁰ tuted). so that the effective arrows of the index sheet will indicate the intended allotment of the cards during the dealing operation which is carried out with the aid of such sheet. Concerning the set up of the inactive ¹⁰ punches numbers 77,80, 84,88,94,97,99,100 and 103, which correspond to the inactive arrows of the index sheet, the same procedure is carried out as with the active punches so that the inactive arrows of -the master ²⁰ sheet will appear thereon as intended both as to their locations and their directional dispositions.

In Figures 8 to 11, is shown a dealing device 24, hereinbefore referred to, adapted ⁰ to receive an index sheet, such as the one indicated by the numeral 20, and a deck of cards designed for use in the practicing of this invention. This dealing device 24 is preferably made of celluloid, and includes a top 25, side walls 26 and end walls 27. The top 25 is provided with a window 28 through which all of the arrows of the index sheet may be viewed, and is formed with an opening 29, ₃₅ adapted to register with the opening 21 of the index sheet. Carried by the top 25, at the inner face thereof, is a button 30, which is adapted to cooperate with a notch 31 formed in the index sheet so as to positively 40 retain the same within the dealing device as the cards are ejected one-by-one through an elongated opening or slot 32 formed in one of the side walls 26 adjacent the top 25, the cards being ejected by the dealer’s thumb as 45 the dealing device is held in the palm of the hand. As to the opening or slot 32, it is to be noted that its width gradually increases from a point midway of its length towards the ends thereof and that its normal width at the 50 narrowest part thereof is slightly less than the thickness of a card. Due, however, to the more or less resilient nature of the mnterial, namely, celluloid, from which the deaf ing device is made, the marginal portion 25α 55 of the top 25 adjacent to or overlying the slot will yield upwardly under slight pressure exerted thereon incident to the dealing operation carried out for each card, thus increasing the width of the slot with the result 60 that the card being subjected to a lateral dealing thrust at the time the slot is widened is ejected without permitting lateral displacement of the immediately underlying card. Thus, it will be appreciated that the cam65 bered portion of the side wall 24 immediately adjacent the slot 32 functions in cooperation with the marginal portion 25α of the top 25 as a card-restraining means, which becomes ineffective with regard to lateral displacement of the uppermost card incident to the 7o respective dealing operations. Further concerning the slot 32, it has been determined by experience that a gradual increase in width from a point intermediate its ends towards opposite ends thereof enables the de- 75 vice to be effectively employed with cards that may be more or less distorted.

From the construction of the dealing device 24, it will be appreciated that the index sheet may be readily introduced into the same 80 from the open end thereof and locked in position preparatory to the introduction of a deck of cards with their faces down so that the backs of the cards, as they present themselves in dealing position, will lie flat against ⁸³the underneath side of the index sheet.

' From the description of the evolution of the designs for the several cards of a deck and the description of the method employed for producing the co-related index sheets, it will °ⁿbe readily understood that as each card presents itself in dealing position below the index sheet, one and only one of the arrows provided on that sheet will register with a station contained within a colored or background area of such each card and that such arrow will indicate, according to its directional disposition, to which of the plavers, “North”, “East”, “South”, “West”, the card about to be dealt is to be alloted, the out- ^!standing effective arrow of Figure 8 being directionally disposed to indicate the player, “West”, and. shown in association with the two of spades, the design for the back of which is shown in Figure 5. i'Appearing on the front of each index sheet, may be such indicia as is deemed expedient and this is likewise true with regard to theback of each index sheet. On the face of the index sheet herein shown, information is im- ¹parted to the effect that partners “North” and “South”, as well as “East” and “West”, are not vulnerable, and the dealer is indicated as being the player “South”. On the back of such sheet, the handicap may be indicated. H > as, for example, 201 at auction bridge and 420 at contract bridge, both in favor of players, “North” and “South”. It is desirable that this information shall be withheld from the parties at play until the hand has been played, 1-” and for this reason the printed matter regarding this information is reversed, so as to render it illegible except by careful observation. If desired, each index sheet may be provided on its obverse side with a series number in ’ association with the name of the editor of the hand represented by each such index sheet, as, for example, Series Number 5 by John Doe, and may be further provided with other information, as for example the section in that . a.

1,887,203 7 particular series and the number of the hand represented by such index sheet in that section.

While only one form of the invention is ® herein shown and described, it will be understood that various modifications may be resorted to, as, for example, with regard to the master card, the index sheets, the dealing device, and the designs for the backs of the re10 spective cards, as well as with regard to the method of producing the master card, the index sheets, and the several printing plates for the backs of the cards of a deck, without departing from the spirit of the invention or the ¹⁸ scope of the following claims.