The World of Playing Cards Logo

Gnau

Published October 11, 2011 Updated January 03, 2023

Gnau, a Norwegian Card Game

Norway Card Games Cuccu Gnav
box from Norwegian Gnav card game

“Gnav” ~ a Norwegian Card Game

GNAV er et klassisk kortspill med aner helt tilbake til 1400-tallets Italia.

“Gnav” or “Gnau” is the Norwegian version of the old card game called variously “Cucu” (or “Cuccu”) in Italy and “Gnau” (or “Gnav”), “Kille” or “Cambio” in Denmark, Norway and Sweden, where it is still played. The pack consists of two series of picture cards and two series of numerals; the exact number of cards and the design and composition of the picture cards varies from country to country. The picture cards are almost as amusing as animal tarots or fortune-telling cards.

Right: front of the box from a Norwegian "gnav" game produced by Egmont Litor A/S, Oslo, 1998. Images courtesy Anthony Lee.

In Denmark the game did not remain popular after the 1920s and appears virtually extinct in Denmark, but you may procure this deck in practically every large bookshop in Oslo.

Norwegian Gnau card game Norwegian Gnau card game

Above & Left: cards from a Norwegian "gnav" game produced by Egmont Litor A/S, Oslo, 1998. The deck is of 42 cards + rule card, comprising of a series of 21 subjects repeated twice. Of these 21 subjects, there are 8 pictures, and 13 numbers from 12-0. Images courtesy Anthony Lee.

See also:   Black Peter   Cromy   Card Games   Happy Families   Jack-of-all-Trades   Hijitus   Hee Trading Co   Illustrated Proverbs   Jaques' Happy Families   Noddy Happy Families   Pekka-Peli   Peruvian Animals Quartet   Reshuffle   Walt Disney   Zoo Comics  

avatar
19 Articles

By Anthony Lee

Member since August 05, 2011

Visit his blog here

Related Articles

1920 Question and Answer Games

Question and Answer Games

A card game called “Impertinent Questions and Pertinent Answers” was launched in the early 1920s by ...

1920 Gibson’s History of England

Gibson’s History of England

History without tears for young and old, 1920s.

1995 Iroha Karuta for Hino City

Iroha Karuta for Hino City

Special version of Iroha Karuta, a traditional Japanese matching game, made for Hino City, Tokyo.

1990 Iroha Karuta

Iroha Karuta

Traditional Japanese matching game played mainly by children.

1974 O-Shlemiel card game

O-Shlemiel card game

O-Shlemiel card game with Yiddish words and phrases.

1875 Lend Me Five Shillings

Lend Me Five Shillings

or “Her Majesty’s Privy Purse” - a merry round-the-table game published by D. Ogilvy.

1875 Laughing Made Easy

Laughing Made Easy

a Victorian card game published by D. Ogilvy.

1904 So-Lah – A Game of Music

So-Lah – A Game of Music

An early 20th century domino-type musical card game by Goodall.

1877 Word Making and Word Taking

Word Making and Word Taking

How crossword and spelling games became popular.

The Search for New Games in the late 19<sup>th</sup> century

The Search for New Games in the late 19th century

A few new games survived and are still around today; most came and went and are only witnessed in th...

1760 Vogelspiel

Vogelspiel

Vogelspiel, a German card game known as the “cuckoo game” also known as “Gnau”.

1880 Cartes de Conversation

Cartes de Conversation

Question and answer game printed by Daveluy, Bruges. Each card contains a question (Q.) and an answe...

Hoyle v Foster: whose name should we remember?

Hoyle v Foster: whose name should we remember?

Hoyle’s name is associated with the rules by which many games are played, particularly card games B...

1742 Hoyle and his Legacy

Hoyle and his Legacy

Edmond Hoyle (1672-1769) was an English writer who made his name by writing on whist and a selection...

1900 Bridge Markers and bridge scoring methods

Bridge Markers and bridge scoring methods

Bridge Markers and bridge scoring methods 1900-1930

Pinochle

Pinochle

I have always been intrigued by the game Pinochle.