Alternative Happy Families
An updated, 1980s-style “Alternative Happy Families” game.
When this pack was produced in the 1980s, it quickly proved popular, especially amongst the younger generation who found old-style Happy Families packs to be extremely dated. This one features the following families – Advice, Artist, Clown, Lesbian and gay, Peace, Politico, Teacher, and Wholefood. The standard relationships of father, mother, son and daughter are largely absent. The designs are in a limited range of colours – green, mauve, and black. The cards have square corners. The rules are printed on the back of each card.
Above: “Alternative Happy Families” published by Cath Tate, London, c1985. Printer unknown. 32 cards in a plastic bag. Size: 75 x 105 mm.
By Roddy Somerville
Member since May 31, 2022
Roddy started collecting stamps on his 8th birthday. In 1977 he joined the newly formed playing-card department at Stanley Gibbons in London before setting up his own business in Edinburgh four years later. His collecting interests include playing cards, postcards, stamps (especially playing cards on stamps) and sugar wrappers. He is a Past President of the Scottish Philatelic Society, a former Chairman of the IPCS, a Past Master of the Worshipful Company of Makers of Playing Cards and Curator of the WCMPC’s collection of playing cards. He lives near Toulouse in France.
Leave a Reply
Your Name
Just now
Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here.
Related Articles
Leadmill playing cards
Promotional pack for an arts centre in Sheffield with designs by Martin F. Bedford.
Agatha Christie and card games
Agatha Christie uses card-play as a primary focus of a story, and as a way of creating plots and mot...
Jeu de 7 familles Les Dynasties d’Artisans Basques
Long-standing Basque businesses represented in a traditional card game with illustrations by Odile A...
English Heritage
52 different colour photos of historic sites managed by English Heritage.
Pride playing cards
Pride playing cards designed by Phil Constantinesco
The Malt Whiskies of Scotland
Three packs featuring photographs by Duncan McEwan of malt whisky distilleries in Scotland.
Typographic Playing Cards
Typographic Playing Cards designed by Jim Sutherland, c.2010.
76: Transitions: Hunt & Sons
Styles change and technology develops. This means that it's possible to see transition periods in th...
Gibson’s History of England
History without tears for young and old, 1920s.
Simpson (Piccadilly) playing cards
Innovative advertising pack for Simpsons of Piccadilly designed by André François.
Scruffy Mutts
‘Scruffy Mutts’ dog-themed playing cards, United Kingdom, c.1998.
Motherpeace Round Tarot
An original and imaginative feminist tarot based on Goddess energy.
Iroha Karuta for Hino City
Special version of Iroha Karuta, a traditional Japanese matching game, made for Hino City, Tokyo.
Iroha Karuta
Traditional Japanese matching game played mainly by children.
O-Shlemiel card game
O-Shlemiel card game with Yiddish words and phrases.
Hamlet Cigars
Advertising deck for “Hamlet mild cigars”, a Benson & Hedges product.
Trending Articles
Popular articles from the past 28 days
