For our 200th example of that curious, under the radar, often anonymous graphic genre, the children’s card game, please contemplate “Choice Thoughts by Longfellow,” an 1890 offering from Milton Bradley.  The player collects sets of five (a title and four quotations from a poem), as well as a binding card that affects the scoring.  I’ve […]

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“Jodete” was published by Nupro Games, in Buenos Aires.  According to my dictionary, “jodete” means “get lost,” “deal with it,” and other saltier expressions, which I suppose fosters competition.  There are 110 cards, and the objective seems to be to gain 600 points. (Posted by Doug Skinner)

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This undated “Authors” deck from Russell gets high points from me for including one of the Founders of the Fortean Society.  I like the curious grisaille portrait and the curlicue as well. The other members of this humble pantheon are: Oliver W. Holmes, Joseph Conrad, Charles Dickens, Sir J. M. Barrie, Rudyard Kipling, Longfellow, and […]

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This German “Black Peter” deck was issued by Berliner Spielkarten.  The pairs represent men and women of different nationalities; I’ve picked a dashing Spaniard for you.  And here’s Black Peter: (Posted by Doug Skinner)

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“Los Locos Fotzys,” a 1990 deck from Cromy, in Argentina, requires the player to assemble four cards, which, when placed together, form a picture.  Four characters are featured: a man, a woman, a cat, and a bird; a search for Fotzys led me back to this deck, so they may have been created for it. […]

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“Para Volverse Mono,” from Argentina, features monkeys and bananas.  It was given as a premium with the magazine Genios.  The title might be translated (loosely!) as “Go Ape!” (Posted by Doug Skinner)

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This lovely set of cards from Argentina teaches the uses of common objects.  On the reverse is a question and answer.  The icebox, you will be glad to know, keeps food fresh. (Posted by Doug Skinner)

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“Black Peter” — a sort of Eastern European version of “Old Maid” — reappears in an undated deck from Piatnik, in Vienna.  This delicate rendering of an accordion and cat duet is particularly nice.  For some reason, two Black Peters are included, which seems to belie the point of the game.  Do the players choose […]

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“Life’s Game of Artists,” published sometime around 1910 by Parker Brothers, featured cartoons by Life magazine’s roster of illustrators.  This was, of course, the early humorous Life, not the later oversized photo mag.  The cartoons usually depicted courting couples, often with Cupid hovering nearby.  The game itself is a version of Quartet or Authors, in […]

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“The Game of Moneta, or Money Makes Money,” was published in 1888 by F. A. Wright.  Each card shows a coin; the denominations are: 1¢, 2¢, 3¢, 5¢, 10¢, 20¢, 25¢, 50¢, $1 (silver), $1 (gold), $2½, $3, $5, and $10.  We certainly had more elaborate currency back then.  The object of the game is […]

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