Animal Snap

Published September 13, 2012 Updated March 09, 2022

The full set of this 'Snap' card game is believed to have 9 characters in sets of four, making a total of 36 cards.

United Kingdom Card Games Snap

Anonymous ‘Animal Snap’ card game

This 'Snap' card game was published in at least 4 editions with slight variations. The main differences lie in the text font and colouring, some details in the clothing and slightly different sizes of cards. The full set is believed to have 9 characters in sets of four, making a total of 36 cards: Mr Globe-trotter; Mr Feeble; A master-singer; Mr Boxwell; Mr Head-ball; Mr Rooster; Mr Tail-a-whip; Mr Valentine and Touch-me-not. In the version shown here one card is titled “Tench me not” instead of “Touch me not” - probably a mis-spelling (as far as we know “Tench” is the name of a fish). The packs were probably manufactured cheaply in Germany for the English market in children's games, perhaps even being included in games compendiums.

‘Animal Snap’ card game, anonymous manufacturer

Above: cards from an 'Animal Snap' card game printed in red and green, anonymous manufacturer, 36 cards, plain backs, approx. 90-100mm x 60mm. Images courtesy Steve Campbell.

References:

Darbyshire, Neil: "Variations on a Theme No.1 - Animal Snap" in the Newsletter of the English Playing Card Society, October 2003, pp.108-110.   Note: Neil Darbyshire will be producing a catalogue of over 200 rare 'Snap' packs in the near future.

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By Simon Wintle

Member since February 01, 1996

Founder and editor of the World of Playing Cards since 1996. He is a former committee member of the IPCS and was graphics editor of The Playing-Card journal for many years. He has lived at various times in Chile, England and Wales and is currently living in Extremadura, Spain. Simon's first limited edition pack of playing cards was a replica of a seventeenth century traditional English pack, which he produced from woodblocks and stencils.

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