Question for dating Kem cards

[Killa Cali]

I have a deck of sealed Kem cards and I wanted to find out what year they are from.  I was told that I needed the code on the ace of spades however the deck is sealed and its not worth cracking these open since they seem old and have stamps from the IRS? The front card is the "Kem Service Card" and that has a "858" in the lower left corner. Would that be the same number as on the ace of spades?  Im hoping it means August of 1958. The box also includes a slip with the inspector # (no date, small 54 in botton right corner), a card that tells how to store n use the cards (no date), a mailing card to register the guarantee the deck (no date)and a small instruction booklet that also has how to get replacement cards (this has a "956" on the back in bottom right corner) Any help would be appreciated.  Thanks!

[murrman]

AFAIK the 858 on the service card is the same as the AoS. At the very least they were made and sold prior to 1965 because that's when the use of tax stamps ended.

Scroll down about 2/3.

http://www.dawson-on-playingcards.info/Collect/collecting.htm

[kimert]

murrman, what is your thoughts on the deck to the right?
Im completely lost

[Jacks Up]

murrman, what is your thoughts on the deck to the right?
Im completely lost

(Click to show/hide)

Have a look at the 7th paragraph in this e-bay guide http://reviews.ebay.com/Vintage-Kem-card-dates_W0QQugidZ10000000000964173

[kimert]

murrman, what is your thoughts on the deck to the right?
Im completely lost

(Click to show/hide)

Have a look at the 7th paragraph in this e-bay guide http://reviews.ebay.com/Vintage-Kem-card-dates_W0QQugidZ10000000000964173

So that would be January 2002? Thank you!

[murrman]

Hey, kimert! Sorry I didn't get back to you but I travel for my job and stayed at a couple of places with limited internet access. At any rate you got the info you wanted.

[Milo]

Got my set-up of pre-USPC Kems from Cara-Gails on Monday.  Dates are '92 and '86, so yeah, same set-up, wildly different producyion dates.  This thread was a great help, so tyvm.  One thing, if anybody else has ever purchased pre-USPC Kems:   Did you notice a small amount of what I'll call talc (?) inside the cellophane?  Disppeared after a couple of riffles through the deck, so no worries, just curious.  Maybe just to combat moisture?

[kimert]

Hey, kimert! Sorry I didn't get back to you but I travel for my job and stayed at a couple of places with limited internet access. At any rate you got the info you wanted.

I knew you would show up sooner or later, so I wasn't worried

Milo, from the two decks of pre USPC Kems I have, I have not noticed any talc. If there is Im sure its there as you said to combat moisture.