KEM Playing Cards Guide: Cellulose Acetate, History & Sizes

KEM playing cards are among the most recognizable premium plastic cards in American card-table history. Made from 100% cellulose acetate, KEM decks are known for flexible handling, washability, long service life, and a heritage closely connected with bridge, poker, clubs, and serious home play.

This guide focuses on the parts of KEM that go beyond shopping: the brand’s origins, the development of washable acetate cards, the Poughkeepsie era, the transition to United States Playing Card Company ownership, differences between vintage and modern KEM, and the clues collectors use to identify and date older decks.

Shopping for current KEM cards? Start with the KEM Playing Cards collection. For a simpler purchase comparison, see the KEM Brand Hub or compare materials and formats in KEM vs Copag vs Modiano.

KEM History: From Washable Cards to a Premium Playing-Card Brand

KEM emerged from early efforts to create a plastic playing card that was opaque, washable, flexible, and suitable for serious play. The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History records that KEM Plastic Playing Cards Inc. introduced the word KEM to commerce in 1934. The brand is commonly dated to 1935, which became the year most often associated with KEM’s commercial launch.

Early KEM history is also closely associated with bridge promoter and author Ely Culbertson. Bridge was enormously influential during the 1930s, and premium washable cards offered clear advantages for clubs and players who handled decks repeatedly over long sessions.

By 1937, KEM was advertising its cards as germ resistant, and the company exhibited at the 1939 New York World’s Fair. These early promotions show that washability and hygiene were part of KEM’s identity long before plastic playing cards became common.

KEM Timeline at a Glance

Date	Milestone	Why It Matters
1928–1931	Patent work on an opaque washable playing card is filed and granted.	Establishes the technical background for thin, opaque playing cards made from cellulose-derived plastic materials.
1934	The KEM name enters commercial use.	The earliest documented commercial use predates the commonly cited 1935 launch year.
1935	KEM becomes established as a premium washable playing-card brand.	This is the date most often used for the beginning of the KEM brand.
1937	KEM advertises germ-resistant playing cards.	Shows that washability and cleanliness were early selling points.
1939	KEM appears at the New York World’s Fair.	Places the brand within a major showcase of modern products and materials.
1946	KEM purchases the Winslow estate property in Poughkeepsie, New York.	Marks the company’s move toward the city most strongly associated with vintage KEM production.
Post-1946	KEM chooses a Beck Place facility rather than building on the Winslow estate.	The Beck Place plant becomes the center of the classic Poughkeepsie era.
2004	United States Playing Card Company acquires KEM.	Separates the independent Poughkeepsie era from modern USPCC-era production.
2006	Modern KEM production resumes after the ownership transition.	Begins the modern era collected and played today.
2019	USPCC becomes part of the Cartamundi Group.	KEM becomes part of the larger Cartamundi playing-card portfolio.

The Patent Behind the Washable Playing-Card Idea

U.S. Patent 1,811,322, titled Opaque Washable Playing Card and Method of Manufacturing Same, is an important part of the technical background behind early plastic playing cards.

The application was filed on January 11, 1929, claiming earlier German priority from January 18, 1928, and the patent was granted on June 23, 1931. It names three inventors:

Siegfried Klausner
Arthur Eichengrün
Richard Röhm

The patent addressed a major technical problem: a thin plastic card had to remain opaque enough that the face could not be seen through the back. It described cellulose-derived compositions and mineral fillers intended to produce a thin, washable, nontransparent playing-card blank.

The patent should be treated as technological background rather than as a complete corporate history of KEM. It explains the material problem the inventors were solving, while the KEM brand developed commercially during the mid-1930s.

The Poughkeepsie Era

Poughkeepsie, New York, is the location most collectors associate with vintage KEM.

In 1946, KEM Plastic Playing Cards purchased the 27-acre Winslow estate between Route 9 and the Hudson River. Although the company considered the property for expansion, it did not build a factory on the estate. Instead, KEM obtained a nearby industrial building on Beck Place, east of Route 9.

The Beck Place plant became the company’s long-running production center and defined the classic independent KEM era. Vintage decks bearing a Poughkeepsie address, period packaging, and pre-USPCC company information are therefore especially important to collectors.

Poughkeepsie-era KEM included many back designs, colors, cases, index arrangements, and game formats. Arrow became the most recognizable design, but vintage collections can also include club, casino, advertising, bridge, poker, and specialty backs that are no longer part of the modern retail lineup.

The Modern USPCC and Cartamundi Era

United States Playing Card Company acquired KEM in 2004. Production paused during the transition and modern KEM returned in 2006.

Modern KEM remains centered on cellulose acetate, but manufacturing methods, printing, packaging, cases, colors, and card feel can differ from older Poughkeepsie production. That distinction is why collectors commonly separate:

Vintage KEM: independent-company production through 2004, especially Poughkeepsie-made decks
Modern KEM: post-transition USPCC production beginning in 2006

In 2019, United States Playing Card Company became part of the Cartamundi Group. KEM remains one of the premium brands within that broader playing-card portfolio.

Why KEM Cellulose Acetate Feels Different

KEM cards are made from 100% cellulose acetate plastic. This is different from paper cards and from the PVC used in many other 100% plastic decks.

Players often describe KEM as flexible, smooth, and softer in the hand than firmer PVC cards. Feel is subjective, however, and can vary with the deck’s age, condition, size, storage history, and production era.

Common KEM Characteristics

Flexible handling: acetate bends and springs differently from paper or firmer PVC.
Washable construction: the cards can be carefully cleaned and fully dried.
Long service life: KEM is intended for repeated shuffling, dealing, and regular play.
Moisture resistance: acetate is far less vulnerable to ordinary spills than paper stock.
Premium positioning: KEM generally costs more than common paper or entry-level PVC decks.
Storage sensitivity: heat, pressure, moisture, and unstable conditions can still damage acetate cards.

For a direct brand and material comparison, read KEM vs Copag vs Modiano. For a broader comparison that includes paper cards, read Plastic vs Paper Playing Cards.

KEM Arrow vs KEM Paisley

KEM Arrow

KEM Arrow is the brand’s best-known modern back design. Its bold geometric pattern has become closely identified with KEM and is available across the widest range of current sizes, indexes, colors, sets, and single decks.

Choose Arrow when you want:

The most recognizable KEM design
The broadest current selection
Bridge-size or poker-size options
Regular or jumbo indexes
Two-deck sets or replacement singles

KEM Paisley

KEM Paisley uses a more decorative patterned back. Current availability is more limited than Arrow, making Paisley a useful choice for players who want a different table appearance or collectors who want both principal modern KEM designs.

Arrow and Paisley use the same general cellulose acetate material. The main differences are design and available configurations rather than a separate material tier.

Vintage vs Modern KEM

Feature	Vintage KEM	Modern KEM
Typical era	Pre-2004 independent-company production	Post-transition USPCC production beginning in 2006
Key location clue	Poughkeepsie, New York, on many classic examples	Modern USPCC or current-brand markings
Material	Cellulose acetate	100% cellulose acetate
Selection	Many discontinued backs, colors, cases, advertising decks, and specialty formats	Focused current assortment led by Arrow, Paisley, and Canasta formats
Condition	Varies greatly with age and storage	Available new and easier to replace
Best use	Collecting, historical study, and careful play when condition allows	Regular play, clubs, gifts, and working collections

Collectors sometimes describe vintage KEM as softer or more flexible than modern production. That may reflect real production differences, but age, wear, storage, and the specific deck also affect feel. It is better to treat handling comparisons as observations rather than universal rules.

How to Identify and Date a Vintage KEM Deck

No single feature dates every KEM deck. Use several clues together and compare the cards, case, inserts, and packaging as a complete object.

1. Examine the Ace of Spades

The Ace of Spades is usually the most useful card for identification. Look for:

The company or manufacturer name
A Poughkeepsie or other location reference
Copyright wording
Typography and artwork variations
A possible production or date code

Some vintage KEM Aces carry month-and-year-style codes. A code should be considered together with the maker line, address, packaging, and other details rather than used alone.

2. Check the Address and Maker Line

Poughkeepsie, New York: generally points toward the classic independent-company era.
USPCC or United States Playing Card Company wording: points toward modern ownership-era production.
Earlier or unusual maker information: may require comparison with documented examples.

3. Inspect the Case and Packaging

KEM has been sold in many forms, including cardboard boxes, hinged cases, rigid double-deck cases, metal containers, plastic cases, and gift packaging.

Check:

Case material and construction
Logos and typography
Color names and product labels
Barcodes or the absence of a barcode
Guarantee cards and printed inserts
Tax stamps, seals, price labels, or retailer marks

4. Confirm Completeness

Count the cards and verify any Jokers, advertising cards, score cards, or inserts appropriate to the set. A complete deck with its original matching case is generally more useful to collectors than loose or mixed cards.

5. Evaluate Condition

Warping or permanent bends
Chipped or split corners
Stickiness or surface residue
Discoloration or yellowing
Odor or evidence of moisture
Mixed backs, replacement cards, or incomplete decks
Case cracks, broken hinges, or missing inserts

Photos Needed for Identification Help

For the best chance of identifying a deck, photograph:

Front and back of the case or box
Both side panels and the top and bottom
The Ace of Spades in close detail
Both Jokers and any extra cards
Any date code, maker line, address, seal, tax stamp, barcode, or insert
A representative card back from each deck

Email clear photos to questions@classicdecks.com. Identification may be approximate when packaging is missing or when production records are incomplete.

Current KEM Buying Guide

The KEM collection page contains the full purchase guide. The basic choices are:

Decision	Choose This When	Shop
Bridge size	You want narrower cards for bridge, Canasta, large hands, or professional-style poker handling.	KEM Bridge Size
Poker size	You prefer the familiar wider format used by many home poker and general-use decks.	KEM Poker Size
Jumbo index	Larger corner markings and easier recognition are priorities.	KEM Jumbo Index
Two-deck set	You play bridge, Canasta, poker rotation, or want the classic KEM purchase.	KEM 2-Deck Sets
Single deck	You need a replacement, backup, or custom color pairing.	KEM Single Decks
Canasta set	You want a premium bridge-size two-deck setup selected for Canasta play.	KEM Canasta Sets

For more help, read Bridge Size vs Poker Size Playing Cards and Jumbo Index vs Standard Index Playing Cards.

How to Care for KEM Playing Cards

Use clean, dry hands: hand oils and lotion can transfer to the cards.
Keep cards in their case: the original case protects against dust, light, and pressure.
Clean gently: use a mild method and follow any instructions supplied with the set.
Dry completely: never return damp cards to a closed case.
Avoid high heat: do not leave cards in hot cars, near heaters, or in direct sunlight.
Avoid harsh chemicals: solvents, abrasive cleaners, and high-temperature washing can damage printing or material.
Store flat and protected: avoid crushing the case or forcing warped cards under heavy pressure.
Use stable conditions: cool, dry, climate-controlled storage is best for vintage and modern decks.

Warning Signs in Vintage Acetate Cards

Persistent stickiness after careful cleaning
Strong chemical, musty, or mold-like odor
Severe warping
Cracking or splitting at corners
Surface transfer between cards
Moisture damage to the case or inserts

Separate a deteriorating deck from other cards until its condition is understood. Vintage material can be affected by decades of storage, and aggressive cleaning may cause additional damage.

KEM Playing Cards FAQ

When were KEM playing cards introduced?

The Smithsonian records commercial use of the KEM name in 1934, while the brand is commonly dated to 1935. Both dates appear in KEM history because they describe slightly different milestones.

Who invented KEM playing cards?

KEM developed from work by Siegfried Klausner and other early cellulose-material specialists. U.S. Patent 1,811,322 names Klausner, Arthur Eichengrün, and Richard Röhm as inventors of an opaque washable playing-card process. The later KEM brand also became closely associated with bridge promoter Ely Culbertson.

What are KEM cards made from?

Modern genuine KEM playing cards are made from 100% cellulose acetate plastic.

Are KEM cards the same as PVC plastic cards?

No. Cellulose acetate and PVC are different plastic materials. Both can produce durable washable cards, but their flexibility, stiffness, surface feel, and price can differ.

When did USPCC acquire KEM?

United States Playing Card Company acquired KEM in 2004. Modern production resumed after the transition in 2006.

What is a vintage KEM deck?

Collectors generally use vintage KEM to describe pre-2004 independent-company production, especially decks associated with the Poughkeepsie plant.

How can I date a KEM deck?

Start with the Ace of Spades, maker line, address, possible date code, case, packaging, Jokers, inserts, seals, and barcodes. Use several clues together because no single feature dates every deck.

No. The 1935 date can refer to a design or copyright tradition and appears on cards made much later. Look for additional production clues.

What is the difference between KEM Arrow and Paisley?

Arrow uses KEM’s best-known geometric back and is available in the broadest range of current configurations. Paisley uses a decorative patterned back and has a more limited current selection.

Are vintage KEM cards valuable?

Some are collectible, but value depends on age, rarity, back design, color, completeness, condition, original packaging, and buyer demand. An old deck is not automatically rare or valuable.

Can KEM cards be washed?

KEM cards are washable, but they should be cleaned gently, dried completely, and kept away from harsh chemicals and high heat. Vintage cards may require more cautious treatment.

What is the best KEM deck for a first-time buyer?

A modern KEM Arrow two-deck set is the broadest starting point. Choose bridge or poker size based on preferred width and regular or jumbo index based on readability.

Shop KEM and Continue Reading

Historical research references include the Smithsonian National Museum of American History KEM object record, U.S. Patent 1,811,322, Marist Archives’ KEM Card Plant history, and the Bicycle/USPCC corporate timeline. Collector dating should remain provisional when original packaging or complete production records are unavailable.

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