This version of “Animal Rummy” was published by Whitman.  Our anonymous artist outdid him or herself, with some particularly lush and inventive designs. (Posted by Doug Skinner.)

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This pictorial deck is from Creative Card Games. (Posted by Doug Skinner.)

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“Felix the Cat’s Rummy” contained pictures of cartoon animals, as well as a picture of Felix himself.  Some of the images were also used in other rummy decks, but I hadn’t seen this scootering pig before. (Posted by Doug Skinner.)

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“Bible Memory Match” — which bears no sign of date or publisher — presented 18 pairs of Biblical subjects, to be matched by the players.  I don’t remember the buzzard in this scriptural passage. (Posted by Doug Skinner; thanks to Lisa Hirschfield.)

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As the magazine evaporates, like dew, from the American landscape, perhaps we should pause to appreciate some outstanding ones. One of my favorites is a small magazine from the 1890s, Multum in Parvo. In fact, it billed itself as the “Smallest Magazine in the World.” And small it is — 3” by 4 1/2″. It was […]

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“Himalaya,” a 1997 game from Charles Wilkins, had a mountaineering theme.  You collected Meter, Danger, and Gear cards on your way to the summit. (Posted by Doug Skinner.)

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I’m not sure if “Compucards” qualifies as a children’s game; it bills itself as “Playing Cards with Binary Numbers, for the Computer Generation.” It dates from 1983, and was apparently a promotional item for Certacom, a “Telecommunications Equipment Distributor” in the UK.  The standard four suits are used, but the numbers are 1, 2, 4, […]

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The “United States Map Playing Cards,” from UniversalMAP, gives you a great deal of information about the states.  There are 50 states, and 52 cards in a deck — so you also get maps of Washington D.C. and of the world.  And the Jokers are maps of the U.S., with the suit and number of […]

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I found this deck with no box or instructions.  It seems to have a Western theme.  All of the other people depicted are also in jail: they include Dirty Dan, Shifty Sam, Fingers, Big Hawk, Little Lou, Black Bart, and Baby Face. (Posted by Doug Skinner.)

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“Le Jeu des Provinces de France,” from Editions Dusserre, portrayed citizens of different provinces.  In Auvergne, one goes around with a large hat, wooden shoes, and a hurdy-gurdy. (Posted by Doug Skinner.)

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