Avilude
Avilude, or Game of Birds, (Worcester, West & Lee, 1873) – a complete game of the card game, including the original box, and play intructions.
The Seven Wonders of The World
. . . and a sale on China, Glass and Linen Goods.
Postcards given away by Arnstein & Bonn, a dry goods merchant at 3rd Avenue and 56th Street
The Laughable Game of What D’Ye Buy
A set of a popular card game.
This edition published around 1850 by S. Hart & Co. in Philadelphia.
No rules included.
Transparency
Selected images from a set of transparent playing cards.
When held to a light source, an image with a proverb can be seen.
Unknown maker, but likely US, circa 1870.
See all cards here: beinecke.library.yale.edu/dl_crosscollex/getSETS.asp?ITEM=2039620
Hot Stuff
The key card for the game of: Robert le Diable: Jeu des Mariages. France, circa 1820.
Q&A
Simple question; complicated answer.
From an unidentified card game from France, circa 1860s.
Tart, Lobster, and Pickle Herring
Playing cards from a deck of “carving cards” printed by Joseph Moxon in London, circa 1680.
Jeu des 7 Grandes Routes
Images of a 1956 card game tracing the major automobile routes around France.
Published by Editions Willeb and brought to you by the folks at British Petroleum.
Works of Industry of All Nations
A scrapbook, compiled by William Paxon, an exhibitor at The Great Exhibition of 1851 (The Crystal Palace Exhibition). In addition to flyers and cards gathered at the stalls of fellow exhibitors, Paxon appears to have helped himself to examples of placards that were intended to remain where they were.
Paxon, from Hampstead, exhibited a device called the “Lunarian, an improved contrivance for showing phases of the moon.”
The Deplorable Deck of Clifford
A deck of etched, printed, hand-colored playing cards created by the artist Nicholas Kahn while a student at Washington University in St. Louis. Missouri.
The Story of Hextor, Clifford, Duncan, and Serge unfolds within . . . Decifer the sordid tale while engaging in poker, hearts or gin . . . Scenes of intimate pain, extraordinary desire.
Nuclear Victim
“No more victims” die-in & vigil [instruction card]
Cambridge, Massachusetts
1978 May 27
Living Theatre Records
The Jumble Club
The records of The Jumble Club, a group dedicated to playing whist (and *only* whist) which thrived in Glasgow, Scotland, approximately between 1799 and 1877.
The records consist of 4 ledgers containing minutes of meetings, with additional meeting minutes, inventories, insurance policy, checkbook. flyers and other related papers and ephemera.
And they came in a lovely metal coffer, complete with a set of keys, none of which fit the box lock.
Prison playing cards
A selection of handmade and delicately stencil-printed playing cards,
made by inmates of Russian prisons, ca. 1980s – 1990s.
Playing Card sample book (Irish Free State)
Another sample book, for cards produced in, and proudly representing, the Irish Free State, ca. 1936.
Playing Card sample book (Germany)
A saleman’s sample book for a line of playing cards produced in Northern Germany, circa the early 1950s.
dos a dos a dos a dos a dos a dos a dos a dos
Back patterns for American playing cards
(from the Cary Collection)
USA3
USA167
USA10
USA9
USA21
USA6
USA2
USA7
There’s a moon in the sky.
It’s called the moon.
ASTRONOMIA [card game] / LONDON / PUBLISHED BY F.G. MOON,
20, THREADNEEDLE STREET / 1829
Room 26 Cabinet of Curiosities 
leave a comment