Arrco Playing Cards: Collector’s Guide

Arrco is a historic American playing card brand best known for durable, professional-grade decks produced for casinos, card rooms, and serious players. This collector’s guide explains the history of Arrco playing cards, how the brand fits into American card manufacturing, what collectors look for, and how modern Arrco reprints at ClassicDecks are organized.

This guide focuses on modern Arrco reprints available at ClassicDecks, with historical notes on classic Arrco lines like Tahoe, Stud, Club Reno, and Duratone finish for collectors of vintage decks.

Quick Links

• Arrco Brand Hub
• Shop All Arrco

What Are Arrco Playing Cards?

Arrco is short for the Arrow Playing Card Company, an American manufacturer headquartered in Chicago that operated independently for much of the 20th century. Unlike brands positioned around decorative backs or gift presentation, Arrco focused on performance: cards intended to be shuffled, dealt, and used heavily in professional environments.

Arrco decks are often described as “working cards.” They were designed with straightforward backs, clear indices, and consistent handling that appealed to casinos, magic shops, and serious card players rather than casual novelty buyers.

History of Arrco Playing Cards

The Arrco Playing Card Company emerged in Chicago in 1927, initially as a contract printer before moving decisively into playing cards during the Great Depression. By leveraging advanced color lithography and durable coatings, Arrco carved out a niche against established competitors like The United States Playing Card Company (USPCC).

In the 1930s and 1940s, Arrco expanded its operations, producing souvenir decks (such as tie-ins for the Century of Progress World’s Fair) and fulfilling military contracts. During World War II, Arrco contributed to the war effort by manufacturing spotter cards used for aircraft and ship identification training, which helped solidify its reputation for quality and reliability.

One of its signature innovations was the Duratone plastic-coated finish, marketed as a washable, longer-lasting coating that the U.S. government adopted for Army playing card orders. This finish was applied across multiple Arrco lines, enhancing durability for heavy use in casinos and military settings.

Through the mid-century decades, Arrco became a quiet staple of American card culture: supplying casinos and card rooms, supporting Chicago’s magic scene, and producing house brands like Tahoe, Stud, and Club Reno that developed their own followings. In 1987, Arrco was acquired by The United States Playing Card Company (USPCC), and the last standard Arrco-branded print runs under USPCC occurred around 2011.

For more on Arrco history, visit the World of Playing Cards.

Common Misconceptions About Arrco

Arrco is often misunderstood online, so it’s helpful to clarify what the brand is—and is not.

• Arrco is not a decorative brand. It was never intended to compete with art-forward or premium gift decks; its focus was on working performance.
• Arrco is not defined by many formats. Most Arrco decks share straightforward faces and practical backs, with variations mainly in brand lines and finishes.
• Arrco is not a novelty rebrand. Its reputation comes from real-world casino and card-room use and decades of adoption by magicians and card workers.

Arrco Brands and Lines

Over time, Arrco supported several distinct house brands. These names often appeared on the tuck boxes instead of “Arrco”, even though the cards were produced by the same Chicago company. For collectors, understanding these sub-brands is key to appreciating Arrco’s full footprint.

Tahoe Playing Cards

Tahoe decks were Arrco’s casino-style line, known for their feathered, organic “club” back design and solid working-deck feel. Vintage Tahoe decks were popular with both players and magicians, and modern reprints have been produced in limited runs to recreate that look and handling.

• Original use: Casino and card-room play, later embraced by magicians as a reliable worker deck.
• Back design: Detailed, soft-edged geometric pattern sometimes referred to as a “club” back.
• Modern status: Vintage originals are collectible; modern tributes and reprints exist in very limited quantities.

Stud Playing Cards

Stud decks began as an Arrco line and later continued under USPCC, famously associated with the Walgreens drug store for everyday card play. They are often remembered for their soft, broken-in feel out of the box and their role as a “sleeper” worker’s deck favored by magicians.

• Original use: General-purpose decks sold through Walgreens, also adopted as magic workers.
• Back design: Clean, casino-adjacent pattern, typically in red and blue.
• Modern status: Vintage Arrco-era Stud decks are collectible; later USPCC-era Studs are a related chapter in the line’s history.

Club Reno

Club Reno was a branded Arrco line that shared design DNA with what many collectors now recognize as the Arrco back used on modern reprints. Some Club Reno decks were marketed with Duratone plastic-coated finish, combining Arrco’s coating technology with a casino-leaning back.

• Original use: Casino and club-market decks with enhanced durability through Duratone coating.
• Back design: Classic Arrco pattern that now appears on many modern reprints; often seen on Club Reno decks.
• Modern status: Vintage Club Reno and Duratone decks are niche but highly appealing to Arrco specialists and casino-deck collectors.

Duratone Finish

One of its signature innovations was the Duratone plastic-coated finish, marketed as a washable, longer-lasting coating and used on long-wear decks, including U.S. government and military orders. This finish was applied across multiple Arrco lines, enhancing durability for heavy use in casinos and military settings.

• Positioning: Premium, long-lasting finish for heavy use, particularly in military and club settings.
• Collecting note: “Duratone” on the box is a strong indicator of mid-20th-century Arrco production and is often a draw for condition-focused collectors.

Arrco and the Magic Community

Arrco has a special place in magic history, especially in Chicago. Many close-up magicians in the 1970s and 1980s preferred Arrco decks for their feel and durability, describing them as softer and more responsive than some contemporary alternatives.

Arrco also sat behind some of magic’s most famous specialty decks. The Enardoe marked/stripper deck, a staple beginner deck in Chicago magic circles, was effectively a marked version of Arrco’s Lombardy back—produced so that Arrco would not be directly associated with manufacturing marked cards. For many magicians, Arrco became synonymous with practical, no-nonsense working decks that could handle faro work, fans, and tabled spreads reliably.

Modern Arrco Reprints at ClassicDecks

Modern Arrco decks available at ClassicDecks are faithful reprints that preserve the straightforward look and updated modern feel of the original cards. Rather than introducing unnecessary variations, these editions focus on consistency and playability.

• Back design: Classic Arrco back inspired by historic patterns.
• Index: Standard index for everyday use.
• Finish: Modern thin-crushed / Magic-style finish optimized for handling (not labeled “Duratone,” even when jokers say “Plastic Coated”).
• Era: Modern reprints of an iconic working deck design.
• Primary variation: Color (red, blue, black, white, gold, and silver).

Because the construction is consistent across editions, Arrco is easy to collect as a complete color set without worrying about mismatched formats or finishes.

Collecting Arrco Playing Cards

Arrco appeals to collectors who value authenticity and usability. Rather than chasing dozens of sub-variants, most Arrco collectors focus on completeness, condition, and a small number of meaningful brand lines.

Recommended Starting Point (Modern)

• Modern Arrco Red deck
• Modern Arrco Blue deck

Expanding Into Arrco Brand Lines (Vintage)

• Add vintage Tahoe decks for a classic casino-style worker.
• Look for Stud decks from the Arrco and early USPCC eras.
• Seek Club Reno / Duratone decks if you want to explore Arrco’s coated, long-wear lines.

Condition Notes

• Edges & corners: important for collectors, especially on working decks that show wear quickly.
• Cellophane & seals: intact packaging increases collector appeal and preserves box printing.
• Uniformity: collectors prefer sets with matching specifications (same era, finish, and index).

How to Date Arrco and Arrow Decks

Dating vintage Arrow and Arrco decks is part art, part science. For serious research, collectors often combine multiple clues: tax stamps, box text, addresses, and—on later USPCC-printed runs—standard USPCC dating codes.

• Company name and address: “Arrow Playing Card Co.” labels and early Chicago addresses generally indicate pre-Arrco branding (late 1920s–early 1930s). “Arrco” branding without USPCC references points to independent Chicago production before the 1987 acquisition.
• Tax stamps: U.S. tax stamps on the seal can help place decks broadly (19th/early-20th century vs post-1965), though Arrco’s main growth period is mid-20th century and often overlaps reduced or no stamp use.
• USPCC dating codes: Once Arrco designs moved under USPCC, some later printings follow standard USPCC dating code practices (often on the Ace of Spades or box), similar to Bicycle and other brands.
• Sub-brand cues: Tahoe, Stud, Club Reno, and Duratone markings can be matched to known production windows and packaging styles documented by collectors.

For deep dating work beyond the scope of modern reprints, collectors often reference community resources such as UnitedCardists, specialty blogs, and historical articles on Arrow/Arrco and casino decks.

How to Store Arrco Playing Cards

Arrco decks—especially vintage Arrow/Arrco, Tahoe, Stud, and Duratone—benefit from the same storage practices used for other mid-century playing cards.

• Environment: Aim for stable conditions around 40–50% relative humidity and 65–70°F to reduce warping and box separation.
• Light: Store away from direct sunlight and strong artificial light to prevent fading of Arrco’s often-subtle back colors and box printing.
• Protection: Use acid-free sleeves or boxes for sealed vintage decks; for modern working decks, a simple protective case keeps edges cleaner longer.
• Handling: For vintage Arrow/Arrco, open only if you value handling over sealed condition; modern reprints are designed to be opened and used.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Arrco playing cards still made?

Arrco is a historic brand that continues through modern reprints produced under USPCC. Current Arrco decks at ClassicDecks are modern editions designed to preserve the original working-deck character.

What makes Arrco different from other brands?

Arrco was designed for professional use. Unlike decorative brands, Arrco focused on durability, consistency, and performance in casino, magic, and card-room settings.

Are modern Arrco decks collectible?

Yes. While Arrco decks were originally intended for use rather than display, modern reprints are collected as faithful representations of a true working-card brand and as a way to experience the handling magicians and card workers talk about.

What are Tahoe, Stud, Club Reno, and Duratone?

These are Arrco-related brand lines and finishes. Tahoe and Stud were working-deck brands produced by Arrco (and later USPCC), Club Reno used a classic Arrco back with casino positioning, and Duratone was Arrco’s plastic-coated finish used on multiple lines, including some Club Reno decks.

How do I date a vintage Arrco or Arrow deck?

Look at the company name and address, tax stamps, references to USPCC, and specific sub-brands like Tahoe or Club Reno, then compare them to known production ranges and community dating guides. Modern Arrco reprints at ClassicDecks are clearly labeled as contemporary editions.

Explore Arrco at ClassicDecks

Whether you’re a player looking for dependable cards or a collector interested in authentic American working decks, Arrco offers a straightforward, no-nonsense option rooted in Chicago’s printing and magic history.

Return to the Arrco Brand Hub or shop All Arrco Playing Cards.