The World of Playing Cards Logo

Trades & Professions

Trades & Professions

Trades, crafts and professions are broad categories of occupations that require specialized knowledge, skills, and/or training.

In some decks of playing cards the standard court card hierarchy of Jack, Queen, King is replaced with different craft or trades people or professionals and also their equipment and tools. Similarly many card games are based around different families of trades people, as in ‘Happy Families’ who may be families of bakers, cobblers or doctors, and so on.

• See also Happy Families

Displaying 17 articles

Sort by: Publication Date Alphabetical Year of Production

Filter by Year of Production

Bau-Skat playing cards

Bau-Skat playing cards

Comic illustrations of people working in the building trade.

Bicycle Blue Collar / White Collar playing cards

Bicycle Blue Collar / White Collar playing cards

Bicycle Blue Collar / White Collar playing cards, USA, 2014.

Cotswold Happy Families

Cotswold Happy Families

“Cotswold Happy Families” created by Mary Gardiner and illustrated by Chris Rhodes, printed by Willow Press, 1997.

Country Craftsmen

Country Craftsmen

“Country Craftsmen” Happy Families with illustrations by Mandy Hall, published for the National Trust by Dinosaur Publications Ltd, 1978.

Highwayman

Highwayman

The game of “Highwayman” published by Chad Valley Company in c.1950 simulates travelling on old Coach Routes and being held up by highwaymen.

Hilti I

Hilti I

Promotional pack for Hilti power tools, with courts in medieval costume and non-standard pips.

Jack of all Trades

Jack of all Trades

Jack of all Trades card game.

Kay Snap

Kay Snap

Kay Snap Children's Card Game, made in England, 1930s.

Le Burling

Le Burling

1960s pack from Annecy with non-standard suits all connected with the office.

Les métiers et leurs protecteurs

Les métiers et leurs protecteurs

“Les métiers et leurs protecteurs” playing cards published by Editions Dusserre, c. 1995.

Les plaques émaillées d’Antoine Vollon

Les plaques émaillées d’Antoine Vollon

54 different enamel plaques depicting silk manufacture, by the Lyon artist Antoine Vollon.

Maisons-Alfort à la “Belle Epoque”

Maisons-Alfort à la “Belle Epoque”

Celebrating 1,000 years of the town of Maisons-Alfort (988-1988) with designs by Henri Simoni.

Martinique

Martinique

Original designs from the French overseas department of Martinique by local artist Martine Porry.

Merry Families

Merry Families

Merry Families published by Multum in Parvo Co., Ltd, from 1896

Old Bachelor™

Old Bachelor™

The 90’s version of Old Maid with illustrations by Susan Wise.

Snap

Snap

Snap by Multum in Parvo Co. Ltd. illustrating common occupations of the day, late 19th century.

Trades People Happy Families

Trades People Happy Families

Happy Families card game depicting trades people from 1920s.