Thomas De la Rue & Co Ltd
In December 1831 Thomas de la Rue was granted his patent for printing playing cards by letterpress.
5: De La Rue
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by Ken Lodge
In December 1831 Thomas de la Rue was granted his patent for printing playing cards by letterpress.
68: Playing cards in glass
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by Ken Lodge
My wife and I have recently commissioned a unique pair of stained glass windows for our home.
67: Adverts and related material after 1900
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by Ken Lodge
The final page of material relating to playing cards from British periodicals.
59: Owen Jones (1809-74) and De La Rue
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by Ken Lodge
A selection of examples of Owen Jones's work printed by De La Rue.
Pashas
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by Matt Probert
“Pasha” is one of Charles Goodall’s brands which first appeared in c.1898 and was retained until after the De la Rue takeover.
Prince of Wales National Relief Fund 1914
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by Matt Probert
A two-pack patience set produced by Thomas De la Rue on behalf of the Prince of Wales National Relief Fund in 1914.
When three brands merge...
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by Simon Wintle
After De la Rue factories were bombed in 1940 their cards were printed by Waddingtons. In 1962 Waddingtons and De la Rue combined forces to form the Amalgamated Playing Card Co.
Help Yourself Society
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by Simon Wintle
The “Help Yourself” Society was formed in 1927 to run fundraising activities for hospitals.
49: De La Rue in detail
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by Ken Lodge
A detailed presentation of the variants of De La Rue's standard cards.
Vac-tric Electric Vacuum Cleaners
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by Simon Wintle
Vac-tric Electric Vacuum Cleaner playing cards manufactured by De la Rue, 1930s.
Jungle Jinks
Jungle Jinks card game with artwork by Constance Stannard Chapman, manufactured by Thomas De La Rue & Co Ltd for H P Gibson & Sons Ltd, c.1905.
Noah’s Ark Card Game
Noah’s Ark Card Game, c.1905, which in its day helped to teach the Old Testament worldview
Peter Pan
“Peter Pan” pictorial card game published by H. P. Gibson & Sons Ltd in c.1912 and manufactured by Thomas de la Rue & Co Ltd from drawings by Charles A. Buchel (1872–1950).
Electrical Mah Jong
Electrical Mah Jong was produced by De La Rue for The Western Electric Company Ltd in 1924 for the Wembley Exhibition.
Travel Agent
Travel Agent is a card game designed by Martin A. Foley and manufactured by Thomas de la Rue & Co Ltd, c.1960.
Iddy Umpty
“Iddy Umpty” card game based around learning to read the Morse Code Alphabet. by Thomas de la Rue & Co., Ltd, c.1905
Bread & Honey
A charming Victorian family card game involving Clowns, Queens, Kings, Maids and thirty-seven Blackbirds manufactured by Thos De la Rue, c.1900.
Spin & Old Maid
Lovely Victorian family card game with illustrations by the famous humorous artist, cartoonist and illustrator Richard Doyle (1824-1883)
Stop Thief & Snip-Snap
Another late Victorian family card game by Thomas de la Rue & Co Ltd, c.1895 with beautifully illustrated period characters.
Gipsy Fortune Telling Cards
“Gipsy” fortune-telling cards with original artwork by Hylton Cock, published by Thomas de la Rue & Co Ltd., c.1910.
Tempest
Tempest is a family card game designed by W. Heath Robinson and published by Thomas de la Rue & Co. Ltd, c.1920s
Golliwogg, c.1902
The stories about the Golliwogg and the Dutch dolls were written by Bertha Upton (1849-1912) and illustrated by her daughter Florence Kate Upton (1873-1922)
A Pair of Transformation Packs
Two similar but fascinatingly different hand-drawn transformation decks by the same artist, c.1875
Empire Card Company: Star Playing Cards
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by Matt Probert
The “Star” special pack of playing cards manufactured by Thomas De la Rue under their Empire Card Co subsidiary, c.1910.
Rūfa
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by Simon Wintle
Rūfa is a game designed by Ernest Legh and manufactured by De la Rue. The object is to build a pagoda with specially-designed cards without causing the building to collapse.
Arthur Lee & Sons Ltd
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by Matt Probert
Advertising deck produced for Arthur Lee and Sons Ltd of Sheffield by Thomas De la Rue around 1958.
De la Rue’s 125th anniversary
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by Simon Wintle
In around 1955 De la Rue introduced a new coloured joker and a series of aces of spades with a silhouette of Thomas de La Rue which coincided with their 125th anniversary
Whist and Gaming Counters and Markers
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by Tony Hall
History.of Whist and Gaming Counters and Markers from the 18th Century to modern times.
Pneumatic c.1960-1965
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by Matt Probert
De la Rue were producing Pneumatic cards with the “special graining for ease of handling” as late as early 1960s
Warburg’s Skandinaviske Bridge Kort
“Warburg’s Skandinaviske Bridge Kort” published by Aktieselskabet Emil Jensen, København, c.1935.
Rufford Playing Cards
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by Simon Wintle
Rufford playing cards is one of several brand names used by Boots for their stationery department, and probably the most popular.
Jack Horner Snap
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by Simon Wintle
“Little Jack Horner” Snap made by Thomas De la Rue & Co Ltd, c.1890.
Alice in Wonderland
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by Simon Wintle
Alice in Wonderland card game based on original designs by Sir John Tenniel published by Thomas De la Rue & Co. Ltd, c.1900
41: A Guide to Dating Playing Cards
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by Ken Lodge
Dating is a particularly tricky but very interesting problem to tackle and there are many pitfalls.
Draughts League Medals
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by Simon Wintle
Arthur Charles Prince worked for De la Rue as a playing card cutter and later was promoted to supervisor of a small team of workers of same until his death aged 50.
30: The Not-So-Minor Cardmakers of the 19th Century - Gibson, Hunt & Bancks
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by Ken Lodge
A preliminary look at the card-makers operating in the 19th century.
28: How to Analyze and Differentiate Playing Card Plates (De La Rue, Waddington and the Berlin pattern [französisches Bild])
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by Ken Lodge
My interest in postage stamp variants led me to apply the same principles to playing cards.
![28: How to Analyze and Differentiate Playing Card Plates (De La Rue, Waddington and the Berlin pattern [französisches Bild])](http://www.wopc.co.uk/core/cache/wopc/thumbs/var/www/wopc.co.uk/htdocs/images/blog/2015/10/JS_D1-D2-D3.71cb0cdb.jpg "28: How to Analyze and Differentiate Playing Card Plates (De La Rue, Waddington and the Berlin pattern [französisches Bild])")
International Playing Cards
Designed by Reuben Townroe (1835‑1911), the artist who designed the ornamented terra cotta work on the exterior of the Royal Albert Hall in London.
Paramount Film Stars
Promotional playing cards for the Paramount film company with film stars on the court cards.
Film Star Playing Cards
Promotional playing cards for the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film company with film stars on the court cards.
20: English Card-Makers 1761-1905
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by Ken Lodge
An initial survey of 19th century playing-card production. More detailed information appears on other pages.
7: Brands and Packs
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by Ken Lodge
The introduction of brands commenced during the late 19th century as a development of the old qualities: Moguls, Harrys, Highlanders and Merry Andrews.
5: De La Rue
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by Ken Lodge
In December 1831 Thomas de la Rue was granted his patent for printing playing cards by letterpress.
Boudoir
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by Simon Wintle
“Boudoir” playing cards were introduced by Chas Goodall & Son in 1906 in a new, slimmer size.
