Alfred Marks

Published May 20, 2012 Updated July 20, 2022

Alfred Marks Recruitment Consultants publicity playing cards published by Astra Games

1985 United Kingdom Astra Advertising Happy Families
smashing staff, splendid service, no joke

Alfred Marks Recruitment Consultants

Publicity playing cards with the compliments of Alfred Marks Recruitment Consultants, printed by Astra Games, mid-1980s

In this non-standard pack, presented in the style of a ‘Happy Families’ card game, each character is repeated four times in the four suits making a total of 12 ideal staff recruits, plus two Jokers. The Jokers have the caption “smashing staff, splendid service, no joke”. The four Aces are branded with the words ‘Alfred Marks Recruitment Consultants’. Alfred Marks first opened in 1919 and was bought by Adecco in 1977.

Alfred Marks Recruitment Consultants publicity playing cards, mid-1980s

Above: Alfred Marks Recruitment Consultants publicity playing cards published by Astra Games, mid-1980s.

Alfred Marks Recruitment Consultants publicity playing cards, mid-1980s
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By Simon Wintle

Member since February 01, 1996

Founder and editor of the World of Playing Cards since 1996. He is a former committee member of the IPCS and was graphics editor of The Playing-Card journal for many years. He has lived at various times in Chile, England and Wales and is currently living in Extremadura, Spain. Simon's first limited edition pack of playing cards was a replica of a seventeenth century traditional English pack, which he produced from woodblocks and stencils.

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