Playing Cards: US Air Force Recreation, Sealed & Unused, USPCC Regular Deck, Blue Box, USA, Vintage 1960s

A deck made for Air Force recreation, unused and still factory sealed. It's a quiet piece of mid-century service life, waiting for its first hand.

• Maker: United States Playing Card Co. (USPCC)
• Brand: U.S. Air Force
• Materials: Paper, Plastic Coated
• Dimensions: Approx. 3.5" x 2.25"
• Origin: USA
• Era: Vintage 1960s–1970s
• Condition: Vintage, very good. Box is unused and factory sealed, with age appropriate wear, light yellowing on the plastic wrapping; cards inside have not been inspected. Please review photos closely before purchasing, as all sales are final.

The blue box has white lettering. The front reads "U.S. Air Force, Recreation, Regular Playing Cards, Made in USA." The back carries a seal with an eagle and arrows and the words "United States Air Force Recreation." The side panels are marked "The United States Playing Card Co., Cincinnati, Ohio 45212, USA," and note that the cards are plastic coated. The five-digit ZIP code places the box after 1963, when ZIP codes came into use. Because the seal has never been broken, the contents are exactly as they left the factory.

A fitting gift for an Air Force veteran, a military memorabilia collector, or anyone who prizes an unopened piece of vintage Americana. It's best kept sealed on a shelf or in a display case.

The Air Force became its own branch of the armed forces in 1947, and the "Recreation" marking points to a deck issued for the service's off-duty recreation programs. USPCC was a natural supplier. The company has put playing cards in American soldiers' hands since 1881, and it distributed more than 30 million decks during WWII alone. This one came from the Cincinnati factory address printed on its box, and it has sat untouched ever since.

Browse our shop for more vintage playing cards to round out your collection.