On February 19, 2026, the Chicago auctioneer Potter & Potter Auctions held “The Games We Play: Puzzles, Games, and Playing Cards.” The sale offered hundreds of vintage puzzles, board games, and playing cards. Collectors bid aggressively on pieces with strong provenance, especially early playing‑card decks and historical war games. Five lots in particular caught my attention, each illuminating different corners of gaming history.
If you are sensitive to depictions of war, colonial conflict, or historically stereotyped portrayals of Indigenous and foreign cultures, please note that several of these objects reflect the attitudes and imagery of their time and may feel offensive or uncomfortable to modern viewers.
1Seminole Wars Playing Cards
Estimate: $5,000 – $7,000
Sold: $6,500
The highest-priced lot was an 1819 “Seminole Wars” deck by Philadelphia maker James Y. Humphreys, a striking example of how early American playing cards doubled as political commentary. Jacks portray Indigenous leaders, including Red Jacket and Joseph Brant; Queens appear as classical goddesses; and Kings depict U.S. presidents Andrew Jackson, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and John Quincy Adams. Humphreys also printed the suits in blue, green, orange, and red instead of the traditional black and red, reportedly to reduce misplays. The rare deck realized $6,500, securing its place as the sale’s most impressive (and arguably offensive) lot.
2Jerry’s Nugget Brick
Estimate: $1,500 – $2,500
Sold: $4,600
The second-highest lot was an unopened brick of twelve Jerry’s Nugget playing cards, dated in the catalog to the early 1980s and still housed in its original carton. While this example comes from a later run, collector fascination traces back to the casino’s storied 1970 printing, which was famously warehoused instead of used and later sold off for only a few dollars before disappearing from the gift shop by 1999. Today, vintage Jerry’s Nugget decks routinely command several hundred dollars each, so a sealed brick realizing $4,600—well above its $2,500 high estimate—confirms continued demand for one of the most recognizable names in modern playing-card history.
3Belgian Tarot Pack
Estimate: $800 – $1,200
Sold: $3,600
Next up: An 18th-century Belgian deck of tarot cards by Brussels maker Martin Dupont drew attention at the auction. The complete 78-card pack was printed using block-and-stencil methods, with small details that collectors notice: “I.G.” on the four of coins and backs patterned with tiny suns set inside diamonds. The catalog described the deck as being in very good condition, with only slight creasing. Most collectors would consider this honest age, not necessarily damage. The beautiful deck exceeded its auction estimate and sold for $3,600.
4Parker Brothers War Game Trio
Estimate: $300 – $500
Sold: $3,400
Three Parker Brothers war games sold together as a single lot. The War in Cuba (1897/98) and The Battle of Manila (1898) were released during the Spanish–American War and turned real military campaigns into hands-on play, complete with wooden projectiles aimed at enemy fleets. Period advertising described them as “realistic” amusement for boys. The third title, Fighting with the Boers, published around 1920, reflects American fascination with the conflict in South Africa; players moved pawns along a track, capturing opponents in a quick, competitive race. Together, the trio realized $3,400, well above the original estimate.
5Dans Les Airs: Jeu de Societe Board Game
Estimate: $400 – $600
Sold: $1,000
A late 19th-century French board game titled Dans Les Airs: Jeu de Société brought a lighter note to the sale. Produced in Paris and housed in its original chromolithographed box, the set includes a folding board mounted on board, six zeppelin-shaped playing pieces (one with a bent stem), colored glass discs, dice, and shakers. The theme reflects the era’s fascination with balloons and early airships, when flight still felt experimental and thrilling. Estimated at $400 to $600, the game soared past expectations to land at $1,000, a solid result for a decorative and complete example of French parlor play.
