1921 U.S. Playing Card Entertaining pamphlet

This little 1921 publication is crazy! 45 pages of "How to entertain with Cards", put out by the U.S. Playing Card Company out of Cincinnati, Ohio.

It covers breakfast, luncheon, and dinner menus, (formal and informal) how to write invitations, how to organize meeting and parties, cake decorations, food of all sorts, prizes, tables and chairs, favors, rules, with ideas for card parties for special occasions (New Years, 4th of July, Seashore, Automobile, October Nut, Japanese, Chilly, and more!) 

I mean this little thing is chocker block full!  The lead off after the opening is Formal Entertaining, and particularly The Invitation.  Two complete pages, and a bit of a third are devoted to proper form and etiquette when writing and sending card party invitations.  And that’s just for Formal; apparently Informal Entertaining requires a different  set of invitation rules! Take a closer look at the picture on the left.

There are card party ideas for every month, holiday and occasion.  For example under the month of March, there is an exception to the invitation rules apparently:  

“Trace the outline of a rabbit in the corner of a correspondence card and write thereon this invitation:

The Hatter and the Doormouse and the Mad March Hare-

All Three,

Would like to have the pleasure of your jolly company,

To help them celebrate in a manner fit and hearty,

The umptieth anniversary of the famous “Mad Tea Party””

The Formal Cold Luncheon menu does differ from the Informal Luncheon and the Japanese Luncheon, and includes Cold Lobster.  The menu for a Formal Dinner seemingly 9 course if you include coffee in the living room, is thusly:

Fruit Cocktail

Lobster Bisque – Bread Stick

Fish Cutlets – Cucumber and Tomato Baskets

Glazed Sweetbreads – French Beans

Roast Lamb – Currant Jelly – Browned Potatoes

Broiled Duckling – Orange Salad

Frozen Pubbing – Lady Fingers

Salted Almonds – Bon Bons

Roquefort – Water Crackers

Coffee

(Coffee usually served in the living-room)

Perhaps my favorite, which sums it nice nicely, as I can recall plenty of late night Euchre parties, complete with food, beverage…. And entertainment!  The U.S. Playing Card Company, 1921 “How to entertain with Cards” Opening Paragraph:

“There is no easier way to entertain and make certain that no guest is neglected, and that all have a good time, than by giving a card party. Cards may be played at any hour of the day. They, alone, may be the raison d’être for the occasion, or they may precede or follow a breakfast, or luncheon, or form the entertainment after dinner. Afternoon card parties are particularly smart and easy to arrange for. They offer the hostess an opportunity to entertain formally or informally, and with as little or as much expense as she desires, and still be correct socially."

This Item was sold on 12-11-13