The Great Galumphus

Published March 19, 2014 Updated April 05, 2023

The “Great Galumphus” card game from the 1920s shows various comic animals with their names printed alongside, designed by Miss Jessie Veal.

1920 United Kingdom Jaques Jessie Veal Card Games

The Great Galumphus by J. Jaques & Son Ltd

The Jaques company has been in existence since 1785 and has continued as a family business through seven generations during which time it has produced dozens of family games. This “Great Galumphus” card game from the 1920s is printed in colour showing various comic animals with their names printed alongside. As can be seen from the box (shown right) the artwork was designed by Miss Jessie Veal.

Four cards in the pack are Privilege Cards, marked with a black Star, to which certain rules apply in the game. Their names are: Crowned Cornubian, The Great Galumphus, Tasselled Snort Hound and Bubbling Water Hog. The remaining 44 cards (four each of 11 further designs) also depict imaginary animals which are reminiscent of the nonsense poems of Edward Lear. No doubt the children loved it!

Pushfoot Polliwog, Climbing Chumtrunk, Painted Pooh-Pooh, Cissling Sand-Snapper, Hairless Hunkum, Flying Umbratunk, Long-Eared Scootler, Scru-Wuzzium, Lunar Lumpkin, Puttyfaced Popcat, Spotted Snifflegrub.

The Great Galumphus card game published by J. Jaques & Son Ltd., London, 1920s

Above: The Great Galumphus card game published by J. Jaques & Son Ltd., London, 48 cards, 1920s. The reverse is a sort of tapestry pattern printed in dark blue with a Great Galumphus in the centre. Images courtesy John Bevin.

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By Simon Wintle

Member since February 01, 1996

I am the founder of The World of Playing Cards (est. 1996), a website dedicated to the history, artistry and cultural significance of playing cards and tarot. Over the years I have researched various areas of the subject, acquired and traded collections and contributed as a committee member of the IPCS and graphics editor of The Playing-Card journal. Having lived in Chile, England, Wales, and now Spain, these experiences have shaped my work and passion for playing cards. Amongst my achievements is producing a limited-edition replica of a 17th-century English pack using woodblocks and stencils—a labour of love. Today, the World of Playing Cards is a global collaborative project, with my son Adam serving as the technical driving force behind its development. His innovative efforts have helped shape the site into the thriving hub it is today. You are warmly invited to become a contributor and share your enthusiasm.

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