Animal 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.

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.

More card games on this site:   Addit • Animal Grab • Belisha • Black Peter • British Towns • Cartes Questions-Devinettes • Change for a Shilling • Counties of England • Cromy • Card Games • Dartex • Editorial Gráfica Flores • El Negrito Pedro • El Reloj Card Game • Famous Five • Golden Egg Game • Gnav • Happy Families • Jack-of-all-Trades • Hijitus • Hee Trading Co • Illustrated Proverbs • Jaques' Games • Jaques' Happy Families • Jewish Quartet Game • Kay Snap • Kingdoms of Europe • Little Folk Misfitz • London Post • Hee Trading Co, Malaysia • Mexican Lottery Game • Mini-Poker • Noddy Happy Families • Pekka-Peli • Pepys Games • Peruvian Animals Quartet • Proverbs & Maxims • Reshuffle • Snip Snap • Tower Press • Vic Joc de Cartes • Walt Disney • Wild Flower Sevens • Woodland Old Maid • Woodland Snap • Zoo Comics

By Simon Wintle

Member since February 01, 1996

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Curator and editor of the World of Playing Cards since 1996.