Bicycle Sideshow Freaks

US Playing Card Co.

US Playing Card Co.

(Based on 2 reviews)
Introducing the Sideshow Freaks Deck! This beautiful deck features classic sideshow characters like contortionists, fire-breathers, the bearded lady, and more, with several hidden gems in the intricate back design.

These double ended back and face cards will be a great addition to your next card night.

Made in the USA at The United States Playing Card Company on premium stock with a quality finish.

Reviews

Stuart Philip

Official Reviewer

Jan 15, 2015

My favorite part of this deck of cards is the tuck box cover art showing a two-headed lady in yellow and dark red. The rest of the artwork on the cards is in a different style.

The cards are printed on Bike stock and the Ace through ten of each suit have the exact same design as your standard 808's, with two exceptions. First, the Ace of Spades does not have a large spade on it, but the face of a mustachioed man. Second, the color of the pips and numbers on the Clubs and Spades are a brownish color and the pips and numbers on the Diamonds and Hearts are a reddish-burgundy color.

The Court cards of each suit depict various circus figures on them, but in a semi-cartoonish style. Included in the figures are a bearded woman, a strong man, a reptile man, a fortune teller, a fire-eater, sword swallower and others. I wish the artwork on these cards was similar to the artwork on the tuck, but it is different enough that I was somewhat disappointed. One Joker is a monkey in a cap and the other is a monkey on a bicycle.

The back of the cards bear an intricate yellow and burgundy mirror-imaged design of various circus figures.

Although it is not my favorite deck, I still enjoy having them.
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DonB!

Oct 03, 2013

Very nice quality (duh, it's Bicycle Brand cards), but the designs are a little "trippy".

Most of the unique decks out have quality, classy designs, but these have more of a "black light" style design, reminiscent of loose, drug-trip type drawings.

Plus, only the face cards, the Joker and Ace of Spades, have unique designs. The remainder of the deck is standard faces. The backs are unique, but the design has too many elements to be considered "clean" for my liking.

Not my favorite deck, but still odd enough for me to use.
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