About these Cards
Deck of 53 mini Playing Cards issued by Granado & Sons.
Each card measures approximately 1-3/8″ X 1-15/16 inches.
From Brazil. Because of the text on back I had originally thought these cards were from Uruguay, but it appears that “Rua Uruguayana 91” is instead referring to a street address in Brazil where Granado & Sons (De Granado & Filhos) was located.
Likely dates no later than 1920 and possibly as early as 1916. Assuming “Mr. Castle” is Vernon Castle, he died in 1918. Sisters Jane and Katherine Lee were born in 1909 and 1912 and were most active on the screen between about 1913 and 1919.
Chico Boia, aka Roscoe Arbuckle, appears to be the Joker. The card has no suit or number, though the one shown in our gallery has a suit and number handwritten at two of the corners.
Keys to this set are the Arbuckle “Joker,” plus cards of Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks, Theda Bara, and Max Linder. The deck pictures mostly American based film stars with several European stars included as well.
A complete checklist follows the full gallery below.
Gallery of Granado & Sons Playing Cards
Just click on any image to open to full size and from there you can scroll through the entire set. The entire deck of 53 cards is shown along with an example of the reverse side and an info card with Spanish text. Text listing of contents follows below.
Granado & Sons Playing Cards Checklist:
Clubs
2- Bessie Barriscale
3 – Hesperia
4 – Fannie Ward
5 – Leda Gys
6 – Virginia Pearson
7 – Francis Bushman
8 – Miriam Cooper
9 – Sessue Hayakawa
10 – Dorothy Dalton
V – Mr Castle
D – Francesca Bertini
R – William Farnum
A – Mollie King
Diamonds
2 – Seena Owen
3 – Lyda Borelli
4 – Irene Castle
5 – Valeska Suratt
6 – June Caprice
7 – Eddie Polo
8 – Mary Martin
9 – Gustavo Serena
10 – Grace Cunard
V – Creighton Hale
D – Pina Menichelli
R – George Walsh
A – Jewel Carmen
Hearts
2 – Jane and Katherine Lee
3 – Pearl White
4 – Marguerite Clark
5 – Anita Stewart
6 – Maria Jacobini
7 – Douglas Fairbanks
8 – Bessie Love
9 – Mario Bonnard
10 – Hazel Dawn
V – Dustin Farnum
D – Pauline Frederick
R – Max Linder
A – Gabrielle Robinne
Spades
2 – Vivian Martin
3 – Juanita Hansen
4 – Theda Bara
5 – Mary Garden
6 – Mr Mathot
7 – Marie Walcamp
8 – Madge Kennedy
9 – Harry S Hilliard
10 – Gladys Brockwell
V – Charles Clary
D – Geraldine Farrar
R – Emilio Ghione
A – Mary Pickford
Joker – Roscoe Arbuckle
