Cotswold Happy Families
“Cotswold Happy Families” created by Mary Gardiner and illustrated by Chris Rhodes, printed by Willow Press, 1997.
Cotswold Happy Families is a traditional card game created by Mary Gardiner (d. 2002) based around country crafts and occupations, with full colour illustrations by Chris Rhodes, printed by Willow Press, Gloucestershire (UK), 1997. Characters include the Shepherd, the Ploughman, the Hurdle Maker, the Groom, the Gamekeeper, the Farrier, the Beekeeper, the Stained Glass Maker, the Forester and the Stonewaller. See the Rules►
Above: “Cotswold Happy Families” created by Mary Gardiner and illustrated by Chris Rhodes, printed by Willow Press, 1997. 40 cards + 2 extra cards in box. Following her death in 2002, Mary Gardiner bequeathed her collection of Happy Families and other card games to the Bodleian Library, Oxford read more →
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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