I would venture that your cards are NOT trimmed - rather the production/cutting was imprecise. This is especially true if the dimensions of the cards you have is uniform. I have owned quite a few of these cards and if I remember correctly - the dimensions have sometimes varied. I have a newly purchased set that I will measure for you when I get a moment. I didn't see any mention of a smaller size in the WTI. When cutting the sheets I imagine measurements had to be set and that could account for a difference or any number of variables. Only mistake they couldn't make was to make them too big
. It appears from all the cards available in the marketplace that production numbers were high - especially in light of a mail-in promotion in exchange for coupons - and perhaps they went into a second printing..... Playing cards were an interesting choice as an insert. Card games were becoming more popular in the mid to late 1880's - and coupled with the interest in cigarette cards this set offered not only somewhat provocative and colorful women - but an intrinsic duality - the chase for the "set" would yield a new product that would be used and reused - time and time again being associated with the brand. Perhaps unintentional but brilliant in my mind. It reminds me of the advertising calendar..............
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