The World of Playing Cards Logo

Snap by Woolley & Co

Published May 04, 2016 Updated August 05, 2022

‘Cries of London Snap’ by Woolley & Co Ltd, c.1905 with cheerful figures of street vendors.

1905 United Kingdom Roberts Bros Russimco Woolley & Co Glevum Card Games Snap

Woolley & Co produced a large number of games in addition to standard playing cards. ‘Cries of London Snap’ was published by Woolley & Co Ltd in c.1905. A favourite parlour game from the Victorian era, with cheerful figures of street vendors, hawkers and news boys. Woolley & Co's card games were taken over by Roberts Brothers Ltd (the Glevum series) in 1905 when Woolley ceased production. Roberts Brothers were in turn taken over by Chad Valley in 1954.

‘Snap’ by Woolley & Co Ltd, c.1905

Above: ‘Snap’ by Woolley & Co Ltd, c.1905.

Modern re-print published by Russimco (cards made in China), 2008

Woolley & Co ‘Snap’ (c.1905) re-print published by Russimco (cards made in China), 2008

Above: Woolley & Co ‘Snap’ (c.1905) re-print published by Russimco (cards made in China), 2008. Images courtesy Matt Probert.

avatar
775 Articles

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

2018 Christmas Carols

Christmas Carols

Christmas Carols playing cards illustrated by Stuart Dilks

1798 Pam is the Knave of Clubs

Pam is the Knave of Clubs

Playing cards as metaphors in 18th century art - from fate, chance and social hierarchy t...

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 ...

1711 Dr Sacheverell

Dr Sacheverell

Dr. Henry Sacheverell's impeachment in 1710 sparked widespread public unrest and political upheaval,...

1990 Leadmill playing cards

Leadmill playing cards

Promotional pack for an arts centre in Sheffield with designs by Martin F. Bedford.

2024 Agatha Christie and card games

Agatha Christie and card games

Agatha Christie uses card-play as a primary focus of a story, and as a way of creating plots and mot...

2024 English Heritage

English Heritage

52 different colour photos of historic sites managed by English Heritage.

2022 The Malt Whiskies of Scotland

The Malt Whiskies of Scotland

Three packs featuring photographs by Duncan McEwan of malt whisky distilleries in Scotland.

2010 Typographic Playing Cards

Typographic Playing Cards

Typographic Playing Cards designed by Jim Sutherland, c.2010.

1812 76: Transitions: Hunt & Sons

76: Transitions: Hunt & Sons

Styles change and technology develops. This means that it's possible to see transition periods in th...

1920 Gibson’s History of England

Gibson’s History of England

History without tears for young and old, 1920s.

1953 Simpson (Piccadilly) playing cards

Simpson (Piccadilly) playing cards

Innovative advertising pack for Simpsons of Piccadilly designed by André François.

1998 Scruffy Mutts

Scruffy Mutts

‘Scruffy Mutts’ dog-themed playing cards, United Kingdom, c.1998.

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.