Woolley & Co: “Eurekas”
Woolley & Co: “Eureka” playing cards with rounded corners, small index pips and decorative back design, c.1880-1885.
Woolley & Co “Eureka” playing cards with rounded corners, small index pips and decorative back designs, c.1880-1885. Packs with corner indices, along with rounded corners, had been introduced by Woolley & Co as a novelty around 1878-79 and were sold at that time for one shilling per pack. Woolley also took pride in publishing new artistic and eye-catching back designs each season, in several tints, which were inspired by fashion trends of the day. These features, along with enamelled surfaces and competitive prices, were aimed at increasing sales.
Above: Woolley & Co “Eureka” playing cards with rounded corners, small index pips and green decorative back design, c.1880-1885. 52 cards.
Above: another of the "Eureka" type, with the innovative and registered small indices in the corners and a geometric back design, from the 1880s. Image courtesy Jonas Bohn.
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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