Pastime Playing Cards for the Blind

An interesting pack by Goodall & Son designed for blind people, I’d date them c1910. Each ace card has a raised ‘A’ in the centre, and each suit has specific clipped corners : Diamonds - 1; Hearts - 2; Spades - 3; Clubs - 4. All the pip suit symbols have a circular punch hole but only the Joker has no punch holes or clips. The court cards are printed in red / black only. The cards don't appear to be using the standard Braille system (invented in 1824 by Louis Braille) but another one. Definitely suitable to allow blind people to participate in most card games, such as cribbage, etc. except, perhaps, that sighted players may gain an advantage seeing the opponent's clipped cards, and body language cannot be observed • See the box

Above: Pastime Playing Cards for the Blind manufactured by Goodall & Son Limd, London, c.1910. 52 cards + joker in box.