Card of the Day - 2023-05-01

Ogdens Beauties mini playing card
Ogdens Ltd. [tobacco : UK] "Miniature Playing Cards" (untitled) actress back (1900) King of Hearts / Miss Sedohr Rhodes - O100-150 : O/2-18 : O/115 (RB.15/115) : Ha.319 : X1/H.319

So this was your final clue, and it was relating to the playing card on the reverse, which was the King of Hearts. And for many female filmgoers of the 1920s that would definitely have applied to Rudolph Valentino - who was also known as The Great Lover, and The Latin Lover. He never set out to be a sex symbol, though he played along with it, and though acting was how he gained his fame, he was equally adept as a cameraman, and loved tinkering with cars.

This set is rather confusing, so I welcome assistance from any Ogden specialists. 

Our original World Tobacco Issues Index splits the cards in to several groups and lists them in columns. I have been informed already that the letters above these columns relate to the suits, so H for Hearts and D for Diamonds etc. I had not worked that out - but I know now. The Index also adds that the cards measure a minimum of 44 x 31 m/m. The subjects shown on the backs, which I would have thought were the fronts, are either beauties or actresses, but some of the beauties have been named as we have gathered more information. The groups, simplified, seem to be 

I - Beauties back, without numeral. 76 backs [pictures] known. 1st to 6th packs, and varieties.

II - Beauties back, inscribed 40 in blue. 26 backs. 7th and 8th packs

III - Actresses back inscribed 46 in blue. 26 backs. 9th and 10th packs. See H.20.A

IV - Actresses back without numeral. 26 backs. 11th and 12th packs. See H.20.B

 

There is a bit more work on this to be done before the weekend!