When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
The product is a rare set of antique playing cards from the 1890s featuring advertising for The Walton Co. whiskey. This collectible item showcases a piece of history from the pre-Prohibition era, with a theme centered around playing cards and whiskey marketing. The cards provide a glimpse into the promotional tactics used by whiskey companies during this time period, making them a valuable addition to any collection of breweriana or historical memorabilia.This deck is an authentic Pre-Prohibition Whiskey Advertising Deck (ca. 1890s) issued by The Walton Co. out of Covington, Kentucky. The Walton Co. operated as a prominent mail-order whiskey house, shipping spirits from their Ohio River distribution hub directly to individuals living in \"dry\" states long before the 18th amendment took effect. The box and individual cards prominently feature an advertisement offering \"one free quart of XXXXAA whiskey with every order of four quarts for $2.90\".Valuation 💰Based on specialty sale house data for early alcohol and tobacco playing card ephemera (such as Potter & Potter), a complete or near-complete Walton Co. deck including its original box holds significant value:
- Estimated Market Value: $150.00 – $200.00.
- Condition Factors: Your deck shows typical age-toning, edge-wear, and organic staining, which is completely expected for a ~130-year-old paper item. The presence of the original box drastically drives up the value compared to loose single cards. Complete Listing Template 📝
TitleRare Pre-Prohibition Whiskey Advertising Playing Cards Walton Co Covington KY 1890s(Alternative keywords if room permits: Antique Mail Order Bourbon Ephemera Card Deck Box)Item Specifics
- Type: Playing Cards
- Theme: Alcohol, Whiskey, Advertising, Tobacciana/Liquoriana
- Age: Pre-1920 (ca. 1890s)
- Country/Region of Manufacture: United States
- Location of Origin: Covington, Kentucky
- Brand/Company: The Walton Co. [1, 2]
## Antique Pre-Prohibition Whiskey Advertising Playing Cards ### Issued by The Walton Co. — Covington, Kentucky (circa 1890s)Up for sale is an incredibly rare, historically significant piece of American liquoriana ephemera.
This is a complete/near-complete antique deck of advertising playing cards from
The Walton Company, based in Covington, KY, dating to the late 19th Century (circa 1890s).Before Prohibition, the Walton Co. operated a massive mail-order liquor house right on the Ohio River,
shipping spirits discreetly to \"dry\" territories across the United States. ### Design & Advertising Text:The card backs and the original paper slipcase feature full-text historical advertisements reading: *\"Four full quarts of XXXX Whisky, $2.90. One quart XXXXAA Whisky free with every order,
making five full quarts for $2.90, express prepaid. THE WALTON CO., Covington, Ky.\"*The Ace of Spades features custom decorative typography and a large central spade showcasing the company\'s mail-order rates.### Condition Report:
* **Cards:** Show authentic age-appropriate wear, including corner rounding, surface smudging, and light edge chipping.
No severe tears or modern modifications. * **Box:** The original paper outer box/slipcase is present, which is exceptionally rare for paper goods of this age.
It displays typical structural wear, corner rubbing, and softening, but the primary advertisement text remains
completely legible.
* *Please review all high-resolution photos closely to inspect individual card condition and total count.*playing card collectors (52+J), PPre-Prohibition paper ephemera collectors,Kentucky whiskey/bourbon historians.
