An “Old Maid, Wildlife Edition,” was published by the National Wildlife Federation at some point. It is, they tell us, “An Educational and Approved Children’s Game.” I assume they did the approving themselves; that’s how it often works. It features sober paintings of animals and plants; “Educational Notes” on said paintings; and a picture of the NWF mascot, a cartoon raccoon in a ranger hat, on the back of each card.
What image, then, did they select for the Old Maid? Here she is:
(Posted by Doug Skinner)
6 responses so far ↓
1 Gail // Jun 6, 2009 at 12:09 pm
I wish the old maid was the moose to break type-casting. This domineering old quacker seems rather dull and pleasureless, just like many of those “Educational and Approved Children’s Games”. The moose is extremely serious, and has the same expression of the greasy old German Shepherd that lived in the car mechanic’s shop in my town.
2 Lisa // Jun 15, 2009 at 4:07 pm
that goose (duck?) seems totally out of step aesthetically with the rest of the deck. Why can’t the Old Maid couldn’t look like a real animal- because real animals can’t be Old Maids?
3 Doug // Jun 15, 2009 at 11:23 pm
I was puzzled by the Old Maid too. Is she supposed to be Mother Goose? Is she going to whack us with that umbrella? And why such a different style of art? Curious!
4 LINDA // Jul 5, 2009 at 4:54 pm
THIS GOOSE (OR DUCK?) LOOKS
MARRIED TO ME.. ONLY MARRIED WOMEN WEAR BONNETS AND
APRONS AND HAVE THE FORESIGHT TO CARRY UMBRELLAS. I LIKE TO WEAR AN APRON, BONNET AND UMBRELLA TO SIGNIFY MY MARITAL STATUS. I EVEN WEAR HIGH HEELED ANKLE BOOTS
AS THIS DUCK DOES, TO WARD OFF UNWANTED ADVANCES BY SINGLE MEN. IT MAKES MORE OF
A STATEMENT THAN THE BAND OF GOLD ON MY LEFT HAND.
MY WILDLIFE CANDIDATE FOR THE OLD MAID CARD WOULD BE THE GREAT HORNED OWL; SMART, FIERCE AND INDEPENDENT.
5 mamie // Jul 6, 2009 at 8:46 pm
I don’t know who Linda is, but her comment is hysterically funny. Ironically, if her suppositions are true, the individual in question is an IMPOSTER!!!!! An Old Maid has NEVER HAD THE BENEFIT OF MATRIMONY!!!!!!!!!!!!!
6 mamie // Jul 6, 2009 at 8:47 pm
Also, I believe the costumed racoon would be “Ranger Ric”.