- Manufactured by
- The United States Playing Card Company, American, founded 1867
- Owned by
- Calloway, Cab, American, 1907 - 1994
- Date
- late 20th century
- Medium
- ink on paper (fiber product) with cardboard and plastic
- Dimensions
- H x W x D: 3 9/16 × 2 9/16 × 11/16 in. (9 × 6.5 × 1.7 cm)
- Description
- A deck of Bee playing cards from the travel wardrobe trunk used by Cab Calloway. The deck is housed in a thin, white, cardboard box with blue text and graphics on the front, back, and side edges. On the front of the pack, printed inside a thin blue frame accented with white dots is a blue banner with large white text that reads [“Bee”] with small additional white text above that reads [REG. U.S. PAT. OFF.]. Below is a blue and white graphic of a bee. At the top is blue text that reads [No. 92 / CLUB SPECIAL] with a graphic of a blue ribbon dividing the text. Printed below the banner is additional blue text that reads [PLAYING CARDS / STANDARD] above a graphic of two branches of laurel branches divided by a small banner with white text that reads [MADE IN U.S.A.]. The back of the packet features a blue art deco style frame with a rectangular graphic of blue diamonds above text that reads [BACK NO 67 / EXTRA SELECTED / FOR CLUB SPECIAL]. The box is partially wrapped with a clear cellophane wrapping. Inside the box is a complete standard 52-card deck of French-suited playing cards and a single joker card, all with a blue diamond pattern back. Also included is a joker card, as well as a card advertising a Euchre set, and a [Guarantee] card which double as two extra joker cards; all with blue diamond pattern backs. The last card is an advertisement for a travel club membership on one side and an advertisement for U.S. Playing Card Company publications on the other.
- Place made
- Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio, United States, North and Central America
- Collection title
- The Cabell “Cab” Calloway III Collection
- Classification
- Toys and Games
- Accessories and Personal Effects
- Type
- packs of cards
- Topic
- Amusements
- Band (Music)
- Clothing and dress
- Conductors (Musicians)
- Costume
- Entertainers
- Jazz (Music)
- Singers (Musicians)
- Travel
- Credit Line
- Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Cabella Calloway Langsam
- Object number
- A2015.273.1.1.4
- Restrictions & Rights
- © The United States Playing Card Company
- Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.




