Bézique
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Bezique Markers, 1860-1960
Bezique is a two-player melding and trick-taking game. Dr. Pole introduced Bezique to England in 1861, but it wasn't popular until 1869.
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C.L. Wüst English pattern comparison
A review of the Ace of spades, court card, backs and joker of English pattern playing cards by Wüst from my collection.
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Card Game Items and contemporary advertisements
It is often difficult to identify the origin, manufacturer and date of a card game boxed set and other card game artifacts.
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De La Rue Pocket Guides
The 19th Century saw the production, by all of the major companies, of pocket guides or “mini-books” on every type of game.
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Dondorf related ephemera
A few items used for advertising or displaying Dondorf playing card products.
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EPCS February 2001 Newsletter Members Only
Leader: Blackpool • Theme: Butlins, J Cooper • Burton HF: Animal Snap • Jugger: Sorrows of Satan, SY Argonaut • Three Card Mysteries: MH Goodall • Teofani • Act of Union: Doulton, Franklin Special Ace • George Clulow: Peculiar Cards Part 1 • Fergie to Football: A Bird • Pinhead System • Horses in Beer Adverts • Samson Miniature • Member Publications
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EPCS November 2005 Newsletter Members Only
Top Trumps • Clifford Toys / Tricklico • Blackpool Souvenir • Squiggles • Esquire • Alberto Vargas • A Find? • Early Playing Cards • Fortune Telling Cards • Court Fools & Jesters (cont) • The Rolls Razor • The Virtue of Princes • Bovril Poster Snap • Defenders of the Empire • Waddington Catalogue 1981 • Tricards
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EPCS November 2008 Newsletter Members Only
Key to the Kingdom • Jacksons Score Cards • Editorial • Feedback • Secretary’s Note • Sabrina Pack • Danger - Mines • Bonzo Transfers • News from the USA • US Forces & Archaeology • A Bezique Surprise • JW Mitchell Joker • From Wanganui to Inverneil • Danger - UXO • St George, Britannia & Union Arms • Card Coinage • Card Structures • US Royals Ad • Scoring Cards • Bubbles Happy Families • Douce Collection (Fulwood) • More Arithmetical Cards • Dean’s Games • Notabilities • Lecardo: An Ingenious pack
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EPCS October 2000 Newsletter Members Only
That's Donald: Card Reverse • Queen Mother's Birthday • Rudge Whitworth Cycles • Pack of Cards: Spades • Oscar Wilde: 100th Death Anniversary • International Cards: Duke of Edinburgh Marriage • AVRO VULCAN: Old War Bird • Nursery Rhyme Snap • Daily Express Centenary • New Issues: Various Themes • Peg's Lucky Cards • King George V: Pneumatic Ace • Mickey Mouse: Special Box • Non-Standard Ace Packs • Bric-a-Brac: Odds & Ends • Cat Snap • J&W Mitchell: Card Manufacturers • Bezique Marker: A.Collier • Pepy's Kargo Drawings • Barribal Waddington: EXIDE Battery • Whist Score Cards • Louis Wain: NAP Game • Christmas Dickens: Non-Standard Packs • House of Cards: C.E.B. Bernard • Playing with Numbers • Bystander Fragments
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EPCS October 2001 Newsletter Members Only
Idalia • Patience Books • Themes for Novice Collectors • 19th Century Advertising • Put-Togethers • The Interflora Story • New Wimbledon • Mulord Brothers • Our Circus Friends Snap • Edison & Swan • Thackeray Zeter • Ace of Clubs Eph • Miscellanea • Game Scorers & Trump Indicators • Spelka • Limerique • Pepys Card Game Quiz • Beautiful Britain • Harper & Co • The Millennium Pack
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EPCS October 2004 Newsletter Members Only
40 Thieves • SDP & Waddington • Scottish Educational Cards • Kan-u-go Singing / Mystery • Waddington Catalogue 1979 cont • Two Goodall Aces • Redline • Golf Cards • Great Storm • Warning to Gamblers and Swearers • Besique 1870 • Toby's Family • Lenthal Broadside • The Rubaiyat of a Bridge Player • The Wedding • Orient Express – The Real Article • Mr William Straker • The Dansant Whist • Orient Express – The Real Boyle
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International Playing Cards
Designed by Reuben Townroe (1835-1911), the artist who designed the ornamented terra cotta work on the exterior of the Royal Albert Hall in London.
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Mystery Objects
I need help in identifying the purpose of this particular piece of card-playing kit.
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The Evolution of Bezique boxed sets, 1869 to 1990
The first company to register Bezique materials with Stationers’ Hall was Josh Reynolds & Son in September 1869.
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The making of a Bridge or Bézique marker
This post-mortem was carried out on a Bezique marker which was already falling apart.
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W. H. Willis & Co
Willis & Company was formed in 1869, having been preceded by Charles Steer at the same address (80 Long Acre, London), who also manufactured playing cards during the 1850s and 60s.
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What can we learn from mini-booklet advertisements?
Over the years I have collected a large number of mini-booklets and pocket guides offering rules and play guidance on a wide variety of games.