From 1928 comes “Kam-ra! A Motion Picture Card Game.”  It’s credited to Josephine O. Miranda, and published by the Kam-ra Card Company in Hollywood.  The other face cards are: Star, Hero, Producer, and Director.  I’m not sure why our author is batting out that screenplay with a quill pen, but good luck to him. (Posted […]

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This stylish edition of the old game “Slap Jack” was published by Russell in 1935.  It was “A Big-Little Card Game,” and measured 1 5/8″ x 2 2/3″.  That must have called for precision slapwork. (Posted by Doug Skinner) 

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Facts Can Be Fun! Interactive gadgets and gizmos to aid learning have been popular for decades, perhaps longer. Often used for the basics – ABCs, vocabulary, numbers, math, music, spelling, verb conjugation, and foreign languages, for example – they have been packaged as calculators and electronic devices, paper wheel charts, games, puzzles, wooden blocks, and […]

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It’s Friday; another children’s card game comes from the box for your aesthetic pleasure.  “Crazy Faces,” a variation of that old favorite, “Crazy Eights,” was published by the E. E. Fairchild Corporation. It apparently came in two editions: one with the kid-TV host Captain Kangaroo on the cover, and one without.  All of the faces […]

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Ed-U-Cards was entrusted with the reponsibility of publishing the “Official 1964-65 New York World’s Fair Children’s Card Game.” There is, of course, a splendid Unisphere in the deck, but I thought you might enjoy the Astral Fountain. (Posted by Doug Skinner)

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“Contraband” was published by the British firm Pepys — no date, I’m afraid. The objective is to smuggle valuables through customs by bluffing and lying. Many of these games are just frivolous; it’s heartening to see one that also teaches a skill.  And please note the beautiful rendition of the ullage. (Posted by Doug Skinner)

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We have here another edition of that old favorite, “Authors,” this one a 1935 miniature deck from the Russell Press. I’m not familiar with Cornelia Meigs; but a bit of research reveals that she wrote many children’s books, and taught English for many years at Bryn Mawr. (Posted by Doug Skinner)

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The “Movement Print” offered a new pleasure for the discerning stereoscope owner. You inserted it, blinked your eyes rapidly in alternation, and enjoyed a brief moving picture of somebody else working. I have no idea when these were produced. I’d like to know what other subjects, if any, were chosen. (Posted by Doug Skinner)

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“ARBO: The Game of Tree Families” was published by the Scholastic Publishing Co. in 1927. The young players are directed to complete and capture suits of tree families. Thus they learn the rudiments of both dendrology and gambling. The backs of these games are usually uninteresting; this one, though, is worth a look. (Posted by […]

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The old game of dominoes is recast with lambs, puppies, kittens, turtles, cattle, pigs, and other creatures — and a stylish job, too, in my opinion. It was published by E. E. Fairchild (no date, as usual), and cost 19c. (Posted by Doug Skinner)

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