Two decks of playing cards, used by President and Mrs. Hoover, and gifted to First Maid of the White House, Maggie Rogers. Reverse of one deck bears a colorful image of a woman, with “Petite” printed along the bottom edge of each card; and the other features a gold, black, and green design, and includes three mismatched cards. Both decks are housed in a 5 x 3 green box, marked on the outside, “Congress Playing Cards.” Accompanied by a July 14, 1982, detailed letter of provenance on White House letterhead, from Lillian Rogers Parks, who was a best selling author as well as housekeeper and seamstress at the White House for over 30 years, from Hoover through Eisenhower. Letter reads, in part: “The double deck of playing cards were a gift from President Herbert Hoover and Lou Henry Hoover, to my Mama, Maggie Rogers, First Maid of the White House…The playing cards sit in a green box without a lid…There are also 3 cards that do not match the deck. I left them in because I always remembered them being there…This is a personal gift from President Hoover and First Lady Hoover.” In fine condition, with expected handling wear.
