The World of Playing Cards Logo

The English Playing Card Society

EPCS Logo

Promoting research into English card history since 1984. Members receive the EPCS magazine three times a year.

Join from £10/year

Tally-Ho

Published February 02, 2013 Updated April 12, 2022

The earliest Ace of Spades had the Centre Street address and the Jolly Joker was used until the “Tally-Ho” Joker was introduced in the early 1900s. The brand has seen only minor variations over the years.

1885 USAPatentDoughertyTally-Ho

“Tally-Ho No.9”

This famous brand was introduced in 1885 and is still available today. The earliest Ace of Spades had the Centre Street address and the Jolly Joker was used until the “Tally-Ho” Joker was introduced in the early 1900s. The brand has seen only minor variations over the years.

The phrase “tally-ho” is a largely British phrase, used in foxhunting, shouted when a rider or follower sees the fox. Indeed, later editions of this brand contain a fox hunting Joker.

The box is gold toned. That is because the cards are gold edged, very rare for this brand.

Above: “Tally-Ho No.9” playing cards, gold edged edition (very rare), c.1892. This is the first “Tally-Ho” deck with an early 'Patented' Ace of Spades and Joker that is very different from today's version that was first issued around 1905. However it has the same Circle back design that is still in use with today's version of the deck. Images courtesy Rod Starling.

See: Montgomery Ward & Co Catalogue Spring & Summer 1895


REFERENCES

Dawson, Tom & Judy: The Hochman Encyclopedia of American Playing Cards, U.S. Games Systems Inc., 2000

Hargrave, Catherine Perry: A History of Playing Cards and a Bibliography of Cards and Gaming, Dover Publications, New York, 1966

avatar
94 Articles

By Rod Starling (1936-2023)

United States • Member since January 09, 2013

Rod Starling was one of the founding members of the 52 Plus Joker card collectors club. He authored many articles for the club's quarterly newsletter, Clear the Decks. His collection encompasses both foreign and American decks. Rod also authored a book titled The Art and Pleasures of Playing Cards.

Activity for Tally-Ho

Sign in to comment or save this article.


Related Articles

Shuffle Along With History

Shuffle Along With History

A brief chronological note linking the introduction of familiar American decks (1848–1908) with cont...

A Look Back with Hope for the Future

A Look Back with Hope for the Future

“A Look Back with Hope for the Future” by Rod Starling

42: Andrew Dougherty

42: Andrew Dougherty

Andrew Dougherty was one of the biggest American card-makers in the 19th century

Card Fabrique Company

Card Fabrique Company

Card Fabrique Company had connections with several other manufacturers and their complete history is...

American Bank Note Company

American Bank Note Company

The American Bank Note Company was a long-established firm producing national currency, finely engra...

1887 Perfection Playing Card Co.

Perfection Playing Card Co.

Tip-Top No.350 playing cards manufactured by Perfection Playing Card Company, Philadelphia, c.1887

1920 Pyramid P.C.C.

Pyramid P.C.C.

The company introduced a number of standard brands until it was absorbed into U.S.P.C.C. and its aff...

1881 Navy No.303

Navy No.303

The second edition of 1883 has slightly larger indices and a more simplified Ace of Spades showing t...

1903 Kalamazoo Playing Card Co

Kalamazoo Playing Card Co

This firm commenced producing playing cards with the name Kalamazoo Paper Box & Card Co in 1903.

1881 Tigers No.101

Tigers No.101

In 1881 Russell, Morgan & Company commenced playing card production by issuing six grades of cards w...

1921 De Luxe No.142

De Luxe No.142

A wide size version of De Luxe No.142 had been published in c.1920, with a similar Ace of Spades and...

Charles Bartlet

Charles Bartlet

Elaborate court cards on a deck by Charles Bartlet, Philadelphia, (who was in fact Samuel Hart) c.18...

1894 Indicator No.50

Indicator No.50

No.50 appears at the bottom of the Ace of Spades and the cards have corner indices and miniature sui...

1878 Triplicate No.18

Triplicate No.18

Dougherty first secured a patent for “Triplicates” in 1876, a novel type of indices with a miniature...

1850 Andrew Dougherty c.1850

Andrew Dougherty c.1850

The idiosyncratic courts used in this deck were used by several other U.S. manufacturers, including ...

1883 Ivorette

Ivorette

Dougherty was at the forefront of innovation, adding Best Bowers and then Jokers, rounded corners an...

1897 Cruiser Playing Cards

Cruiser Playing Cards

Dougherty's ‘Cruiser No.96’, first published c.1897, was dedicated to the U.S. Navy..

1906 Russell’s Regulars

Russell’s Regulars

Willis W. Russell’s “Regulars” were first issued in c.1906, a brand aimed at the armed forces, in tr...

1909 Norwood #85, c.1909

Norwood #85, c.1909

The deck features a colourful Ace of Spades and Joker, decorated Aces, unique courts and two beautif...

1848 Andrew Dougherty 1848-1930

Andrew Dougherty 1848-1930

Andrew Dougherty was born in Donegal in Northern Ireland in 1827. He started his playing card busine...


Sign in with Google