Ups & Downs
Ups and Downs humorous card game published in UK by A. N. Myers, c.1885.
A. N. Myers & Co (1865-1899) were publishers of popular card games during the 19th century, often manufactured in Germany with high quality litho printing. Titles include: Cock-a-doodle-doo, Struwwelpeter, Natural History Dominoes and Ups & Downs. Each card contains humorous verse which builds into an illustrated story when the cards are laid in correct sequence as a complete set. Each set is identified by a symbol at the lower left-hand corner.







Above: cards from “Ups and Downs” published in UK by A. N. Myers, c.1885. Printed in Germany (possibly by Adolf Sala or Dondorf). 48 picture cards (twelve sets of four) in box + rules. Plain backs.
Notes & References
Joseph Myers & Co. 1842-1865 ► Abraham N Myers & Co., 11 John Street, London 1865-1899. Took stock from J Betts 1875. See: Gamesboard.org.uk►

By Rex Pitts (1940-2021)
Member since January 30, 2009
View ArticlesRex'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.