Yet another strand of the playing card world is that of card games, packs of cards usually designed to play just one game. The commonest are Happy Families and similar collecting games, and Snap, but the variety is as great as in ordinary playing cards.
An ‘interesting and instructive’ Victorian card game showing Queen Victoria’s extended family connections, 1896
“Alibi” the thrilling card game by Haytor, Tor Productions, 1930s
Alphabetti Spaghetti Happy Families game for Crosse & Blackwell c.1978.
“Amos del Universo” card game published by Litografía Goicochea Hnos, S.A., Lima, Peru, c.1980
Angry Birds UNO manufactured in China, 2003
Animal Grab card game by Thomas De La Rue & Co., 110 Bunhill Row, London..
The full set of this 'Snap' card game is believed to have 9 characters in sets of four, making a total of 36 cards
Animals Quartet game printed for Cigarrillos El Figaro, Peru, early 1900s
Anonymous “Snap” game from the late 19th century
The founder of Ariel Productions, Philip Marx, was a prolific publisher of children’s books and comics towards the end of and just after the Second World War.
Astronaut card game published by Pepys Series (Castell Bros) celebrating the arrival of space travel, 1960s
“Ataque”, a card game simulating football manufactured in Buenos Aires by Vigor S.R.L., 1958
cards from a 40-card children's "Questions and Answers" game. The Spanish suit signs have been changed to tambourines, yo-yos, swords and skittles. Printed lithographically in Cuba, c.1930.
Figuritas Golazo collectible football cards from Argentina, 1973
“Bargains” was designed by George Lambert for C. W. Faulkner & Co in c.1900
Belisha, published by Castell Brothers Ltd (Pepys Games) in 1937, was produced with a desire to make a helpful contribution to the national Safety First campaign.
Bella y Bestia Cromy card game Argentina
“Fireside Bible Game” (No.1124) published by The Fireside Game Co., Cincinnati, USA, 1899.
The ‘Biography Channel Card Game’, 2002
Black Peter card deck for children printed in Riga during World War II, believed to have been designed by a Latvian artist.
BMW Promo Top Trumps produced as a promotion for the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Pepys board games which may be interesting to see.
“Bobs y'r Uncle” nursery rhyme card game designed by Frank H. Simpson for John Waddington Ltd. in 1935
A charming Victorian family card game involving Clowns, Queens, Kings, Maids and thirty-seven Blackbirds manufactured by Thos De la Rue, c.1900
Pepys “British Birds” card game with colour pictures, c.1968
British Towns Card Game by Pepys Games (Castell Brothers Limited).
C. W. Faulkner’s “Busy Families”, c.1903
C. W. Faulkner & Co Ltd, London, an important publisher of games, pictorial souvenirs, children’s books, and postcards.
C.W.S. ‘Game of Snap’ advertising household products, Manchester (UK), 1930s.
“Candid Confessions” published by Jaques & Son, Ltd, c.1905
Children's games are distinct from ordinary playing cards, with their most obvious difference being the lack of any court cards or suit marks.
Joker S.A.I.C. produce a range including children's card games, tarot cards and advertising decks, alongside their standard Spanish-suited and Anglo-American playing cards.
Card Games for Kids by Hamlyn 2004
A “Questions & Answers” family game from France produced by Imagerie Pellerin.
A Victorian card game telling a story of a victim being ensnared in a trap, being caught, and finally escaping.
The “Cavalry Game” manufactured by Thomas de la Rue & Co Ltd, c.1900-10
Chad Valley Co. Ltd (incorporating Johnson Brothers (Harborne) Ltd) the long-established UK brand bought by Woolworths in 1988 and now sold at Argos.
Change for a Shilling card game by Geo. Wright & Co., London, c.1910-1926.
Channel X published by Pepys Games based around TV advertising, c.1966.
“Characters from Charles Dickens” card game published by Jaques & Son, c.1880.
Cheery Families card game designed by Richard Doyle and printed by De La Rue & Co., Ltd, c.1893
Chip 'n Dale Cromy card game Argentina
Clifford ‘Donkey’ card game, c.1948
Clifford Toys is a brand name of F. Levy & Co., Ltd, London, sellers of toys and fancy goods
Old Time “Comic Conversation” cards published by McLoughlin Bros, N.Y., c.1887
“Convoy” WW2 card game published by Tree Brand c.1940, based on wartime naval convoys
“Cotswold Happy Families” created by Mary Gardiner and illustrated by Chris Rhodes, printed by Willow Press, 1997
Jaques’ Counties of England card game
“Country Craftsmen” Happy Families with illustrations by Mandy Hall, published for the National Trust by Dinosaur Publications Ltd, 1978
