Snap
Snap card game published in UK by Globe (Oppenheimer und Sulzbacher), late 19th century.
Snap card game, one of the earliest published in UK by Globe (Oppenheimer und Sulzbacher) late in the 19th century. Each card is repeated four times.
Above: the box illustration features a tug o' war game with the Globe Series trade mark and the legend ‘Made in Bavaria’ Click to zoom.
Above: Snap card game published in UK by Globe (Oppenheimer und Sulzbacher), late 19th century. 24 square-cut cards in telescopic box, price one penny. Designed to catch the pennies from poor people as well as the rest of their range which were too pricey for them.
By Rex Pitts (1940-2021)
Member since January 30, 2009
Rex's main interest was in card games, because, he said, they were cheap and easy to get hold of in his early days of collecting. He is well known for his extensive knowledge of Pepys games and his book is on the bookshelves of many.
His other interest was non-standard playing cards. He also had collections of sheet music, music CDs, models of London buses, London Transport timetables and maps and other objects that intrigued him.
Rex had a chequered career at school. He was expelled twice, on one occasion for smoking! Despite this he trained as a radio engineer and worked for the BBC in the World Service.
Later he moved into sales and worked for a firm that made all kinds of packaging, a job he enjoyed until his retirement. He became an expert on boxes and would always investigate those that held his cards. He could always recognize a box made for Pepys, which were the same as those of Alf Cooke’s Universal Playing Card Company, who printed the card games. This interest changed into an ability to make and mend boxes, which he did with great dexterity. He loved this kind of handicraft work.
His dexterity of hand and eye soon led to his making card games of his own design. He spent hours and hours carefully cutting them out and colouring them by hand.
Related Articles
The Molassine Company and its link to Whist and Bridge
A savvy marketing strategy blending Victorian decorative design with Edwardian practicality.
OH Cards
A Series of Metaphoric Cards to unlock your story, conceived and designed by Ely Raman
Waddington’s faux books
Waddington’s faux book set containing four packs of playing cards and bridge markers.
Double Dummy Bridge
In the early 20th century several firms began to promote whist or bridge as a game for two.
Ogdens Beauties & Military cigarette cards
Cigarette cards featuring beauties and military uniforms with playing-card insets.
VEB Kombinat Kali
Advertising pack depicting old means of salt production, with designs by Hannelore Heise.
Burghausen
Historical figures and buildings to promote the town of Burghausen, with designs by Jonny Petri.
Wiener Pattern – Nuremberg Version
A classic deck in a new illustrative style, with notable variations in line work, detail, and colour...
Boddingtons Bitter playing cards
Cool-looking courts advertising Boddingtons Bitter, originally brewed in Manchester.
OXO Faces of the Millennium Dinner
Twentieth-century personalities promoting a millennium dinner at the Oxo Tower in London.
Kids Fun Box playing cards
Colourful cards for children with four non-standard suits connected with the natural world.
Tangle Foot Ale
Badger Brewery Tangle Foot strong ale advertising pack.
Scientific Whist
“Scientific Whist” : standard cards with instructions for play on the faces by Chas Goodall & Son, 1...
Agent Provocateur
Branded lingerie collection in a pack of pin-up playing cards.
Nimbus playing cards
Mike Steer’s weather-themed pack with suits in four colours and backs for cardistry.
Agatha Christie and Playing Cards revisited
Agatha Christie uses card-play as a primary focus of a story, and as a way of creating plots and mot...
Most Popular
Our top articles from the past 28 days
