Bee is one of the playing card brands most closely tied to American gaming tables. Its first deck was printed in 1892, and today it belongs to the United States Playing Card Company (USPCC), the same company that makes Bicycle. This is the red-backed version, one of the two long-standing colours alongside blue.

• PublisherBee (United States Playing Card Company)
• PrinterUnited States Playing Card Company
• Backfull-bleed red diamonds, borderless
• Contents52 cards + 2 jokers, poker size

Design

The back is covered by a lattice of small diamonds that runs right to the very edge of the card, without the white margin found on other decks. There is a practical reason for this: if a card shows even slightly, the back is recognised instantly, which is why casinos have used it for decades, often with their own logo added. The faces follow the classic poker deck layout, with standard-size indices. The brand’s reference, “No. 92”, is usually linked to that year of launch.

Manufacturing

It is printed in the USA on the Bee card stock the brand reserves for casino use. The finish usually associated with this line is Cambric, a fine coating designed to help the cards hold their shape and withstand many hours of dealing.