Alternative Happy Families
An updated, 1980s-style “Alternative Happy Families” game.
When this pack was produced in the 1980s, it quickly proved popular, especially amongst the younger generation who found old-style Happy Families packs to be extremely dated. This one features the following families – Advice, Artist, Clown, Lesbian and gay, Peace, Politico, Teacher, and Wholefood. The standard relationships of father, mother, son and daughter are largely absent. The designs are in a limited range of colours – green, mauve, and black. The cards have square corners. The rules are printed on the back of each card.
Above: “Alternative Happy Families” published by Cath Tate, London, c1985. Printer unknown. 32 cards in a plastic bag. Size: 75 x 105 mm.
By Roddy Somerville
France • Member since May 31, 2022
Roddy started collecting stamps on his 8th birthday. In 1977 he joined the newly formed playing-card department at Stanley Gibbons in London before setting up his own business in Edinburgh four years later. His collecting interests include playing cards, postcards, stamps (especially playing cards on stamps) and sugar wrappers. He is a Past President of the Scottish Philatelic Society, a former Chairman of the IPCS, a Past Master of the Worshipful Company of Makers of Playing Cards and Curator of the WCMPC’s collection of playing cards. He lives near Toulouse in France.
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