Archives
2010 • April
Cheery Families, c.1893
Cheery Families card game designed by Richard Doyle and printed by De La Rue & Co., Ltd, c.1893
Jaques’ Happy Families
In 1851 the games manufacturer John Jaques of London (founded in 1795) commissioned a set of drawings from John Tenniel, later Sir John, the chief cartoonist of Punch, for their new game of Happy Families.
Happy Families
Happy Families is probably one of the most popular card games ever invented, with educational benefits relating to sorting and matching of sets, as well as early literacy and elementary genealogy, flowers or bird identification, etc.
Anonymous manufacturers 1
Argentina has produced a series of anonymous decks, both Spanish-suited and Anglo-American type and children's games.
Vistas del Perú, c.1920s
Vistas del Perú souvenir deck, made in USA and imported by Edw. E. Muecke, Lima, Peru, c.1920s.
Swiss Album patience
Swiss Album patience cards manufactured by C. L. Wüst (Frankfurt), c.1900, with a different landscape on the reverse of each card. The court cards depict costumed figures along with shields from the cantons.
Lagos del Sur Souvenir
Lagos del Sur Souvenir playing cards published by Gráfica S.A., Buenos Aires, c.1980.
República Española Souvenir
Printed by Hijos de Heraclio Fournier, Vitoria, for the French-speaking tourist market. 52 cards + joker in mock crocodile skin box.
Souvenir Playing Cards
Tourist souvenir playing cards depict the aesthetic, political, social and economic conceptions of the countries to which they belong. They feature beauty spots, local customs, gastronomy, historic ruins or other attractions.
Cía Chilena de Tabacos
Anglo-American style pack issued on behalf of the Cía Chilena de Tabacos, c.1930.
Anonymous manufacturers 2
Argentina has produced a series of anonymous decks, both Spanish-suited and Anglo-American type and children's games.
Hija de B Fournier
Having started out as Fournier Hermanos, Burgos in 1860, the company remained in the Fournier family undergoing several changes of name and finally becoming Hija de B. Fournier sometime around 1900.
John Llewellyn, playing card manufacturer, London, 1778-1785
John Llewellyn, playing card manufacturer, London, 1778-1785
Carreras Ltd Playing Cards and Dominoes, 1929
Carreras Ltd miniature playing cards and dominoes, 1929
Schincariol Beer, Nossagraf, Brazil
Schincariol Cerveja Pilsen brewery playing cards manufactured by Gráfica Nossa Senhora Aparecida Ltda (Nossagraf), Brazil
Léonard Biermans, Turnhout
Léonard Biermans had been employed by Brepols from 1871-1874 before opening his own playing card factory in 1875.
José Gombau
Deck of half-sized Spanish-suited playing cards in the Maciá pattern produced by José Gombau, Zaragoza, c.1833.
A Todos Alumbra
40-card "A Todos Alumbra - Naypes Refinos" pack manufactured by Léonard Biermans, Turnhout, c.1880.