Gamble Find: c1894 Bicycle 808 Brown Cupid Back
Bought a lot of about 40 decks with limited knowledge. Seller was unwilling to provide more information or photos due to them already boxing it up for shipment. decided to buy them anyway on a gamble, not sure what I would be exactly getting.
Although the decks in interest were in worse condition than what the photos provided shown, there was a gem.
For any of the antique Bicycle card collectors out there, you might recognize the above. A original Cupid "Sod" design that was produced between 1894 to 1896. "Sod" is a nickname the community has granted the original design of the back. The designs had to be redrawn ever so often due to the steel plates wearing due to use -- usually there is very small changes that can be found, but sometimes there were major design elements that they decided to draw differently. For cupid, the original design has the bicycle being ridden on top of grass (or "Sod"), while the design shifted to a simple crosshatch that was used from ~1896 onwards.
Unfortunately, this deck has seen better days. The condition of it is pretty rough and appears to have been well loved and played with. There are many cards with creases, a few with missing corners, corners have been eroded down, and unfortunately the 8 of Spades was no where to be found. 51 cards with no joker or box. However, it is a very rare example of this design, especially sporting the elusive brown color.
These might have been used at a common card party back in the day, where the Cupid backs were favored to be used to play Hearts. Whose to say? Either way, a fun piece of history!