Love Tests

I have a set of unusual vintage miniature cards that have been passed down the Family. I’m not sure how old they are or if they are playing cards or a game of some sort. They don’t have any instruction leaflet or box with them. There are a mixture of “love letters”, in the form of post cards, while others have caricatures of people on. The “love letters” are of a slightly saucy nature but all in good fun! I am unable to find out anything about these cards despite quite a bit of research and wondered if you had ever come across anything similar?

The cards do not appear to have been cut or “popped out” of any larger card or packaging, as the edges are very uniform and smooth. I'm not sure if they have been collected singly, over time, as three of the cards are duplicated (unless there was a second set at some point?). I have, as yet, been unable to find anything regarding the “address” or copyright info and am a little unsure what to do next. I guess the cards may date from the 1930s, as one card refers to “these days of cocktails, motor cars and backless bathing costumes”. A quick research of the backless bathing costume led me to the early 1930s! I asked my older sister if she had any idea of where the cards had come from. She remembered two old Aunties who loved card games and thought they may have come from them. I think they were born late 1800s so that would fit. My Mum and Dad were also lovers of card games - whist, canasta, bridge etc and often had card parties, so the Aunties may have passed them on to us because of that. They are printed on thick card. The set appears to comprise of five love letters, six caricatures of adults and seven of children and, finally, seven love tests.

Above: Vintage novelty “Love Tests” cards published by B. A. & Co Ltd London E.C.2, c.1930s. 25 uncoloured cards only, no box or instructions. Size = 66x44 mms.

Reply: these cards would likely fall under the category of "novelty cards" or "fortune-telling cards". The content includes short, slightly saucy love letters, caricatures, generalised "love tests" with amorous predictions or playful forecasts about one's romantic future. Perhaps they were sold as small, inexpensive items for personal enjoyment or party fun, even won at the funfair for one penny. There isn’t any history available for “B. A. & Co Ltd London E.C.2” so probably it was a smaller or short-lived entity that specialized in novelty items like these cards, which might explain the limited available information today. The E.C.2 postcode was introduced in 1917 so that is the earliest date point. They are a charming curiosity of novelty items from the 1930s related to romance and amusement which no doubt your two aunties had some fun with in the good old days!