The deck of cards shown this month is represented by some examples of a very rare 52 card set of tobacco insert playing cards issued circa 1885 by the P. Lorillard Company of Jersey City, New Jersey.

Card Back #1

Card Front #1

Card Back #2

Card Front #2

No joker was issued with this set. A single card measures 1 3/4" x 3 3/8" or 44mm x 86mm. These cards were used to advertise 2 of their brands of tobacco, 5 Cent Ante Fine Cut & Lorillard's Snuffs. One of these brand names appears on the front of each card in a small rectangular box measuring 7/16" x 1/4". Those cards that display the 5 Cent Ante logo on the front are designated as I 1 in the Hochman Encyclopedia of American Playing Cards, Volume 2. The back of these cards features decorative scrollwork in a greyish-brown color with black printing that says "Chew 5c Ante Fine Cut, P. Lorillard Company". Those cards that display the Lorillard's Snuffs logo on the front are designated as I 2 in the Hochman reference. The back of these cards features black printing on a white background amounting to a card-length advertisement for this brand.

Ace of Hearts

Ace of Clubs

Ace of Diamonds

Ace of Spades

The back of either card also indicates that these cards were lithographed by Donaldson Brothers, New York. These cards, regardless of the brand advertised, are also designated as N-258 in The American Card Catalog and the new reference book of American Tobacco Cards by Forbes & Mitchell. The front of each card consists of a wonderful, colorful depiction of an attractive young woman dressed in a theatrical costume of the day. The rank and suit of each card appears as an index in the upper left corner on the front of each card. As can be seen below with the two Aces of Diamonds shown, this design is the same on the front of each card regardless of the brand.

Six of Hearts

Six of Clubs

Six of Diamonds

Six of Spades

One of the fascinating features of this set is that there is a common theme running through each rank. Some examples are shown below. The Aces all represent the military. The sixes all represent jockeys. The nines depict letter carriers from France, the United States, Germany and England, respectively.

Nine of Hearts

Nine of Diamonds

Nine of Clubs

Nine of Spades

Other ranks, not shown here, are:

• The 2's all represent schoolgirls.
• The 3's all represent masked ladies.
• The 4's all represent female warriors.
• The 5's all have a nautical theme.
• The 7's all represent musicians.
• The 8's all represent huntresses.
• The 10's all represent winged fairies.
• The Jacks all have a nautical theme that differs from those depicted on the 5's.
• So far, I have been unable to determine the identity of the theme common to all the Queens or the Kings. It is possible that someone who is familiar with late 19th century drama or literature might be able to identify one.