AUGUST CRUSIUS was a founding member of the NCC. As his obituary shows he was a well respected playing card man. Strangely it does not mention his time with NCC.
G E Y E R 'S S T A T I O N E R
November 15, 1917
OLDEST PLAYING CARD SALESMAN DIES
Attended by a host of people who knew and loved him, the body of August Crusius, for many years manager of the New York office of the United States Playing Card Co., of New York, was placed in its final resting place at a private interment Monday afternoon of this week.
The late Mr. Crusius became, at the death of W. H. Longley of the American Playing Card Co., about two years ago, the oldest playing card salesman in the country, and the honor will now have to be passed along.
Mr. Crusius died Friday, November 9, at the Post Graduate Hospital, following an illness of three weeks. He was born in 1850, (15 MAR 1850 • Kaiserslautern, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany) and was connected for a quarter of a century with the United States Playing Card Co. The funeral services were held at his late residence, 1720 Avenue J. , Flatbush, Brooklyn.
The deceased was a man of rare attainments. He had a most enviable reputation through the trade and among his personal circle of friends as being thoroughly sincere and was a man much loved by his associates. The stationery trade will miss a man whose integrity and honor had endeared himself to.
It is with much regret that we record his demise.
August Crusius broke into the playing card business way back in 1869, when he was cashier for Victor E. Mauger, at 106 Read street, New York, who was the American agent for Goodall's playing cards. Mr. Mauger also manufactured a line of cheap domestic cards. When Mr. Mauger failed (1880) Mr. Crusius went with him to Cincinnati, where the Russell & Morgan Printing Co. started under the Superintendency of Mr. Mauger in the playing card business. This is the business known all over the world as the U. S. Playing Card Co. When the New York office of the U. S. Playing Card Co. was opened Mr. Crusius was head salesman and covered Canada as well. Changes in the New York office occurred and Mr. Crusius became manager (By 1905). He was well known in every large city in the United States and Canada.
G E Y E R 'S S T A T I O N E R
November 15, 1917
OLDEST PLAYING CARD SALESMAN DIES
Attended by a host of people who knew and loved him, the body of August Crusius, for many years manager of the New York office of the United States Playing Card Co., of New York, was placed in its final resting place at a private interment Monday afternoon of this week.
The late Mr. Crusius became, at the death of W. H. Longley of the American Playing Card Co., about two years ago, the oldest playing card salesman in the country, and the honor will now have to be passed along.
Mr. Crusius died Friday, November 9, at the Post Graduate Hospital, following an illness of three weeks. He was born in 1850, (15 MAR 1850 • Kaiserslautern, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany) and was connected for a quarter of a century with the United States Playing Card Co. The funeral services were held at his late residence, 1720 Avenue J. , Flatbush, Brooklyn.
The deceased was a man of rare attainments. He had a most enviable reputation through the trade and among his personal circle of friends as being thoroughly sincere and was a man much loved by his associates. The stationery trade will miss a man whose integrity and honor had endeared himself to.
It is with much regret that we record his demise.
August Crusius broke into the playing card business way back in 1869, when he was cashier for Victor E. Mauger, at 106 Read street, New York, who was the American agent for Goodall's playing cards. Mr. Mauger also manufactured a line of cheap domestic cards. When Mr. Mauger failed (1880) Mr. Crusius went with him to Cincinnati, where the Russell & Morgan Printing Co. started under the Superintendency of Mr. Mauger in the playing card business. This is the business known all over the world as the U. S. Playing Card Co. When the New York office of the U. S. Playing Card Co. was opened Mr. Crusius was head salesman and covered Canada as well. Changes in the New York office occurred and Mr. Crusius became manager (By 1905). He was well known in every large city in the United States and Canada.
In 2021 I made contact with August's great-granddaughter. She told me that his nickname was "Air Cushion". He apparently invented, or was heavily involved in, the air cushion card design at USPC.