Chief Cities Quartettes
Hand-made ‘Chief Cities Quartettes’ card game, c.1910.
Hand-made ‘Chief Cities Quartettes’ card game, c.1910 by an unknown artist. Each city from around the world has 4 cards with a hand drawn and painted image at the top and titles of the other three cards to complete the set handwritten at the bottom. Possibly inspired by a similar set (maybe Famous Cities or Counties) or perhaps photos in a book, the set must have taken some time to complete. In England this type of game was sometimes called "Happy Families", "Quartet" or "A Round Game" but "Quartette" could be from somewhere else in Europe.
The card for Edward VII is a clue: his correct date is 1901-1910. Queen Victoria was 1837-1901. This suggests that the author / artist may not have been acquainted with the current UK monarchy dates, and also that the cards would have been produced in or after 1910. There may be other clues.
Above: hand-made ‘Chief Cities Quartettes’ card game by unknown artist, 84 cards in box, c.1910. Square corners. The backs have a swirling marble pattern. Images courtesy Becky Winter.
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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