Woolley & Co: “Second Harrys”
Woolley & Co produced a range of different quality playing cards, and these “Second Harrys” are towards the cheaper end of the range.
Woolley & Co produced a range of different quality playing cards, and these “Second Harrys” are towards the cheaper end of the range, with one-colour backs and without enamelled facing. Each year new styles were brought out, in various colours, as fashions changed. At this time machinery was steam powered and cards were cut, sorted and assembled into finished packs by hand.
See also: Floral Moguls►
Above: Second Harrys manufactured by Woolley & Co., London, c.1877. The court cards are double-ended and unturned, with square corners. The pip cards are one-way. A detail from the wrapper is shown below.
REFERENCES
Goodall, Michael H: Minor British Playing Card Makers of the Nineteenth Century, (vol.2) Woolley & Company, Woking, 1996
Lodge, Ken: The Standard English Pattern (second revised and enlarged edition), Bungay, Suffolk, 2010
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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