Woodland Old Maid
Woodland Old Maid, a Pepys Card Game illustrated by Racey Helps, first published c.1957.
Woodland Old Maid
a Pepys Card Game pictured by Racey Helps, c.1957
In this classic children's game first published by Castell Brothers Ltd (Pepys Games) in the late 1950s the ‘Old Maids’ are depicted as gentle and loveable owls (maybe spinsters too!). Woodland Old Maid is a game for two or more players in which the object is to discard matching pairs and not end up holding the single ‘Old Maid’ card.
“Old Maid” card games were also re-titled in other countries as Black Peter (Schwarzer Peter) in Germany, Zwarte Piet (Netherlands), Svarte Petter (Sweden) and Pekka-Peli (Finland). The main focus of the game is towards the last card, which might be a black cat, an Old Maid, black-faced chimney sweep or black grotesque character.
Above: Woodland Old Maid, a Pepys Card Game illustrated by Racey Helps, first published c.1957. . The three 'Old Maids' are: Winnie Woodowl; Hetty Hoot and Olive Brown. Ten sets of four matching cards, plus three 'Old Maid' cards + rules card in cardboard box.
Companion games of Woodland Happy Families and Woodland Snap were also published by Pepys Games with artwork by Racey Helps. See also: more artwork by Racey Helps→
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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