Offered here is a remarkable early American social-history artifact: an antique Ten of Diamonds playing card reused as a printed tea-party invitation in Lancaster, Kentucky, with a handwritten date appearing to read 1808.The reverse of the card bears a period printed invitation requesting attendance at a:“TEA PARTY, at Mr. John Hann’s”to commence at 4 o’clock P.M.The invitation names P. Buford, L. M’Kee and G. W. Morrison as managers and is inscribed at the bottom:“Lancaster, November 19, 1808”The playing-card face is a simple early Ten of Diamonds with large red diamond pips, while the opposite side was utilized as the invitation itself. An interesting dating detail deserves mention. The printed text specifies “Thursday, the 11th of December next.” December 11 fell on a Thursday in 1806, while December 11, 1808 fell on a Sunday. The handwritten final digit appears visually to be an 8, however, and the card is therefore offered as manuscript-dated 1808 / circa 1808, with this calendar discrepancy noted for complete transparency.The named host is historically plausible in early Kentucky: a John Hann is documented in later Kentucky legal records in connection with property in the town of Lancaster. Lancaster itself had only been established in the late 1790s, making this an especially evocative surviving piece of early Kentucky social life. Early playing cards used as invitations are a recognized form of early-19th-century social ephemera. Comparable examples appear in specialist Americana collections and sales, but surviving American examples with a specific early Kentucky location and named participants are decidedly uncommon.Condition:Original antique condition with substantial age toning, staining, surface wear and handling consistent with an object more than two centuries old. There are two old central puncture/tear areas passing through the invitation, along with scattered marks and edge/corner wear. The printed wording and handwritten information nevertheless remain substantially legible. Please examine all photographs carefully as they form an important part of the condition description. A fascinating crossover piece for collectors of early American playing cards, Kentucky history, social invitations, Americana, gaming history and early-19th-century ephemera.
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