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CHICAGO (Reuters) - More than 700,000 decks of the only "official" Iraqi most-wanted playing cards have been sold since they hit the U.S. market 10 days ago, producers of the cards said Wednesday.
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Louis Amoroso, founder of GreatUSAFlags.com of Lake Forest, Illinois , the exclusive marketer for the cards manufactured by United States Playing Card Co. of Cincinnati, Ohio, had originally projected sales of 500 decks a day. Sales are brisk and he expects to sell the millionth deck soon.

The Ohio company owns the trademark for the red-and-yellow Hoyle Jokers used in the Defense Department's original 200 decks distributed to U.S. troops in Iraq. It warned others marketing similar cards not to use their joker image.

Each "official" deck has two jokers, one showing Iraqi military ranks and the other Arab tribal titles. Former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein is pictured as the Ace of Spades, and his two sons, Qusay and Uday, are among top of the pack of 55 most-wanted Iraqis.

"Some customers feel like it's a bit of history, others find it just interesting to see the faces and descriptions and others are buying because they think they're collectible, which they are," Amoroso said, adding that a lot of buyers come from among the military.

The millionth deck may be presented to the Smithsonian or to Brig. Gen. Vincent Brooks, the officer who first introduced the world to the deck on April 11, he said.

The cards are selling for $5.95 the deck on the firm's Web site. Amoroso said there are "thousands" of competitors also selling "unofficial" cards on the Internet. A quick search founds dozens of purveyors, at prices as high as $19.95 each.

Copyright © 2003. Reuters News Service.