Playing Cards: Miniature Black Poodle on Red Back, Western Printing & Lithographing, USA, 1940s

Tiny enough to tuck into a pocket, this vintage miniature deck pairs a black poodle with a bright red back. A small, charming piece of mid-century card play.

• Maker: Western Printing & Lithographing Co
• Materials: Paper cards, paperboard box
• Dimensions: 1¾ inches x 2½ inches x ½ inch (box)
• Origin: USA
• Era: Vintage 1940s–1960s
• Condition: Cards are Very Good, all 52 present, with no folded corners or marks. Box is Good, with one large tear and obvious signs of use and wear. Please review photos closely before purchasing, as all sales are final.

This complete 52-card miniature deck has red backs, each with a black poodle. The Ace of Spades is printed "Made in U.S.A. (6040B - 33A)." Part of the original blue and white U.S.I.R. (United States Internal Revenue) "1 Pack" tax stamp remains on the box. The cards are in crisp, clean condition, and the well-loved box shows its age.

A sweet find for playing card collectors, poodle lovers, or anyone building a shelf of miniature curiosities, and a charming little gift for the card player who has everything.

The WPLCo marking is barely visible on the stamp but still identifiable, points to Western Printing & Lithographing Company of Racine, Wisconsin. The company formed its Western Playing Card Company in 1927, and its Whitman Publishing subsidiary, formed in 1916, was publishing children's card games like Old Maid, Snap, and Animal Rummy by 1951. The blue and white U.S.I.R. seal is a small piece of the era's history too. It was a federal tax stamp placed across the box to show the tax had been paid on the deck, and stamps of this type were used from 1940 to 1965, which is how we date this little deck.

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