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►

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, USA, 2014.

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

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

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.

Jack of all Trades
Jack of all Trades card game.

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

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” playing cards published by Editions Dusserre, c. 1995.

Maisons-Alfort à la “Belle Epoque”
Celebrating 1,000 years of the town of Maisons-Alfort (988-1988) with designs by Henri Simoni.

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

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

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

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

Trades People Happy Families
Happy Families card game depicting trades people from 1920s.