What is a Matching Joker? A matching joker (or named joker) means that the joker image is a black and white version of the back design. For example, here is the back and the joker of the Congress 606 Rookwood joker from 1899:
Rookwood Congress Joker and Back Design |
These matching jokers date from 1898 to 1904. Then, Congress switched to jokers that featured the US Capitol building (see below for an example). I have an article on the history of the Congress jokers.
Congress switched to Capitol Jokers around 1906 |
This article - updated again in June 2024 - focuses on these Congress 606 Matching joker decks which were published for around 6 years starting in 1898. There were only 41 different images on these jokers. I have collected 37 of them so far.
Number of different images on matching jokers*
41 - Known to exist
37- In my collection. ONLY FOUR TO GO!
Number of different matching joker decks*
56 - Known to exist
43 - In my collection
What is this weird distinction that John (that's me) is making between images and decks? In some cases, the same image, say of a spinning wheel, was used in slightly different formats. Here for instance, is the same basic spinning wheel image used on a joker with the word joker, on a joker without the word joker, and on a deck called Priscilla (rather than with the spinning wheel name used on the first two). So one image - Spinning Wheel - but three different jokers and decks.
Same image but three different decks and jokers* |
Four Spinning Wheel Images on the back of Congress 606 Cards, from my collection |
The Matching Jokers that I most want:
Chameleon, Clown, The Cavalier, Holland, and Spinning Wheel (facing left, not right). And there are plenty of variations that I'm also seeking.
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If you are interested in learning more about Congress matching jokers, here are some really incredible resources by wonderful meticulous collectors and reseachers:- The Congress Guy's Page on Congress Matching Jokers
- Matt Schacht's list with images of all of the Congress Matching Jokers
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Three Generations of Matching Jokers. I categorize the Congress 606 matching jokers in three generations. It is slightly different than CongressGuy's categories. His are probably more historically accurate but he is considering the whole deck, I focus only on the jokers. Specifically, he makes distinctions based on which format of ace of spades came with the deck. My three generations of Congress Matching jokers:
Generation 1 (G1)- These are distinguished by the word Joker included on the joker and the image is always in an oval.
Generation 2 (G2) - The word Joker is not there and the frame is either oval or rectangular but without any fancy trimmings.
Generation 3 (G3) - The oval and rectangular shapes have fancy trim.
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Generation 1 Congress 606 Matching Jokers - These jokers - as mentioned - have the image in an oval and with the word Joker.
Berenice - Whole Deck. Berenice is a classic mythological type.
Martha Washington - She is American political, in the American people section of the collection next to George. As described above, she and her husband, the images are derived from either the Athenaeum portraits or the copies made by Gilbert Stuart. How do I know this? Steven Bacon, of Two for His Heels on RubyLane and a frequent writer for 52 Plus Joker, has provided me with this and other info.
Martha Washington |
Delft and Fishers Return |
Mill, Rotterdam Delft, Delft |
Peaceful Vale |
Diana. This is one of my three Diana Congress decks, each one different in some ways. The box and ace are dated 1899. In this one, the joker image is in an oval frame without the word joker, above was one with an oval with the work joker. I also have one with a Capital joker which is not a matching joker. BTW, none of these Dianas are wearing a shirt. Or a bra. Just saying... Diani is the fighters section of the joker collection.
Rookwood Congress 606 - 1899 |
Sitting Bull Joker - 1901 |
Anticipation |
Naples Congress 606 |
Two Minuet Congress Jokers |
Fishers Return Joker without "Joker" |
Rotterdam Delft |
The Bridge |
Kaatche |
King Edward VII |
Kite Time Americana. The art work is by Frantz Charlet, The deck is copyright 1903. Frantz Charlet (1862–1928) was a Belgian painter, etcher, and lithographer. (thanks to Steven Bacon of Ruby Lane for the artist info).
Toboggan (entire deck). Americana.
Congress 606 Moorish Joker |
A Listing of My Matching Jokers - Click to see the master list of the Congress 606 Matching decks in a spreadsheet format
Anticipation - rectangular frame (entire deck)
The Bridge - oval frame without word joker
Delft - oval frame with word joker
Diana white border - oval frame with word joker (entire deck)
Diana red border - oval frame without word joker (entire deck)
Empress Josephine - oval frame without word joker
Fishers Return - oval frame with word joker ( gray colored back)
Fishers Return - oval frame without the word joker (green septome colored back)
George Washington - oval frame with word joker (entire deck)
Good Night - oval frame with word joker (entire deck)
Holly - fancy oval frame
Hunt - oval frame without the word joker
Kaatje - fancy rectangular frame
King Edward the Seventh - fancy oval frame (entire deck)
Martha Washington - oval frame with word joker
The Minuet - oval frame without the word joker (2 copies)
Mistletoe - fancy oval frame
Mill - oval frame without the word joker (entire deck)
Moon Fairy white border - oval frame with the word joker.
Moon Fairy orange frame - oval frame without the word joker (entire deck)
Moorish - fancy oval frame
Music Hath Charms - rectangular frame (entire deck)
Napoleon - oval frame without word joker
Peaceful Vale - oval frame without the word joker (entire deck)
Priscilla -oval frame without word joker
Rookwood 1899 - oval frame with the word joker (entire deck)
Rookwood 1899 - oval frame without the word joker (entire deck)
Rotterdam Delft - oval frame without word joker
Rube 2 - oval frame with word joker (entire deck)
Spinning Wheel facing right -oval frame without word joker
Spring - rectangular fancy frame (entire deck)
Sitting Bull - oval frame without the word joker (entire deck)
Toboggan - fancy oval frame (entire deck)
Yacht - oval frame with the word joker.(entire deck)
The Matching Jokers that I most want?
Chameleon, Clown, The Cavalier, Holland, and Spinning Wheel (facing left, not right).
The ones that I want also but I have in some form:
GW - G2
King Edward G2
Naples - G3
Peaceful Vale - G3
Prince of Wales - G2
Princess of Wales - G2
Rotterdam Delft - G1
Spinning Wheel Facing Left - G1
Yacht - G3
Congress 606 Matching Joker Themes
I think there are a few interesting themes of Congress cards. My favorite theme might be the exotic Mediterranean North African imagery of which I have Oasis, Moorish, Tambourine, and Naples. Are they all by the same artist? (Oasis doesn't have a matching joker and )
Related articles:
- All of my Congress jokers (most of which have the Capital)
- My purchase of 19 Congress decks from around 1900
- The Congress Guy's Website
- The World of Playing Cards article on Congress Cards by Simon Wintle
Playing Card History. The Congress 606 jokers were the top of the line decks back in the late 1800s. Normal people bought decks back then for $0.02. But the super wealthy, the Astors, Vanderbilts, Morgans, Rockefellers, and Flaglers, they bought the highest end decks. When they played in their fancy mansions, exclusive clubs, or summer homes in Newport, the decks came in ornate leather cases and the cards had golden edges. They were most likely Congress 606 cards.
Art Rights and Royalty. I'm very curious about how the rights for the fancy proprietary artwork on the back of the decks of cards were acquired for use. Were royalties paid? One of my aspirational projects is to identify the artist for each of the matching jokers decks and then, perhaps, to get info on whether the right to use was free under some fair use clause, paid for, or what. Anyone know anything about this?
Parker Bros Rembrandts (made by SPCC)
SPCC Peerless.
So far, I have not focused on collecting them.