The good doctor is shown here extolling Cow & Gate’s “Milk Food,” in the “Cow & Gate Happy Family Game.”  The other families — Allsmiles, Carr, Pill, Cowangate, Churn, Cheerful, Dunkley, Giles, Feedus, Nice, and Allwise — also seem to enjoy the company’s line of dairy products. (Posted by Doug Skinner.  Thanks to Angela Alverson.)

[Read more →]

The U.S. Playing Card Company published these “Nation’s Capitol Souvenir Playing Cards” in 1909.  Photos of places of interest were overlaid with pastel tints: blue for hearts, green for diamonds, and pink for spades and clubs.  The Joker was Dupont Circle. The backs are unusually lovely: (Posted by Doug Skinner)

[Read more →]

Kilimanjaro Productions published this African-themed deck in 1979.  I like its lush, formal illustrations. (Posted by Doug Skinner)

[Read more →]

“Grandfather’s Whiskers,” from John Waddington Ltd. (of Leeds and London) promised “3 games in 1.”  You could match the heads and bodies; you could connect incongruous heads and bodies for “over one thousand humorous figure combinations”; or you could work the “jig-type puzzles” on the backs of the cards. (Posted by Doug Skinner.  Thanks to […]

[Read more →]

“Wild Animals” — “For School and Home Play” — was created in 1903 by Louis M. Schiel, Principal of the 23rd District School in Cincinnati, for The Cincinnati Game Company, and published by Parker Brothers.  It came with a 16-page booklet, describing its many educational uses. (Posted by Doug Skinner)

[Read more →]

“All Star Comics,” a 1934 creation from Whitman and the King Features Syndicate, featured characters from a number of comic strips: “Krazy Kat,” “Dumb Dora,” “The Katzenjammer Kids,” “Little Annie Rooney,” and “Just Kids.”  This is Mush Stebbins, from “Just Kids.” (Posted by Doug Skinner)

[Read more →]

Parker Brothers published “Hidden Titles”; as usual, there’s no date.  It contains thirty cards, “representing many different geographical titles in pictures.”  I like its flamboyant lettering and deft charcoal sketches. (Posted by Doug Skinner)

[Read more →]

“Cheery Families” was published by Thomas de la Rue & Co, in London.  There were thirteen families in the deck; all headed by contented tradesmen like Mr. Butt.  I suspect brewers would be barred from a children’s game nowadays. (Posted by Doug Skinner.  Thanks to Angela Alverson.)

[Read more →]

We have here an old, isolated card; I don’t know to what game it once belonged. (Posted by Doug Skinner)

[Read more →]

“Reformed Lesson Cards” were distributed in Sunday Schools.  Each card carried a picture and Bible verse; and, on the back, a brief sermon and quiz.  After twelve lessons, there was a review card.  The above card was handed out on June 27, 1897.  And here is Lesson XII, from the week before. (Posted by Doug […]

[Read more →]