“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.)

[Read more →]

On April 1, 1897, the remarkable French humorist Alphonse Allais published his Album primo-avrilesque.  It was a slim volume, containing seven monochromatic paintings (such as “Apoplectic cardinals picking tomatoes by the Red Sea”) and a silent funeral march (because the greatest sorrows are mute).  The march was the first silent piece, preceding similar works by […]

[Read more →]

“Forfeits,” from J. & L. Randall, Ltd., in England, offered activities for party guests.  The art is snappy, and the red and green color scheme is attractive; but I can’t imagine that some of the suggestions would turn out well. (Posted by Doug Skinner)

[Read more →]

We have another “Old Maid” deck, old, worn, and incomplete.  It features imitations of comic strip characters, such as this approximation of Buster Brown.  Other personalities include Old Foxy (Foxy Grandpa) and Katz’s Kid (Katzenjammer Kids).  The Old Maid seems peevish in their company, but she does have a nice hat. (Posted by Doug Skinner)

[Read more →]

“ABC Educational Cards” was published by Ed-U-Cards in 1956.  The deck contained both number and letter cards, all in this breezy, colorful style. (Posted by Doug Skinner)

[Read more →]

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 →]