Polygo™
Cards of irregular, four-sided shape for playing word and colour games as well as more traditional ones.
As card shapes go, this must rate as one of the most unusual. The inventor, a certain “Dr P.”, proposes 12 ways of playing games with these cards in the accompanying leaflet . These range from traditional card games to word games to matching games (by shape or by colour). Solitaire (or patience) games are also included. On five of the cards, one can read “Polygo™ / © 1998 P S M Products Ltd / Patents pending”.
These cards almost certainly had quite a short life. Perhaps the inventor was trying too hard to create a multipurpose set. Would they have worked better if they had not had rounded corners?
Above: Polygo™ made by Richard Edward Ltd, Plumstead, UK. Published by PSM Products Ltd, London, UK, 1999. 52 cards + 2 (identical) Jokers + 1 bridge scoring card + fold-out leaflet in clear plastic box housed in a tuck box with tab. Size: 55 x 80 mm approx. (at widest point).
Publicity leaflet
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.
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