Crooked playing cards- US games systems

" The Crooked deck "- US games systems - 52c. + 3 jokers
We have here another of the species of novelty cards. These cards ( of which there are many makers, ) possess the feature of being cut into a curious shape

As you may see from the picture, not only are the cards themselves bent into this curious shape, but the images upon them are also distorted in this fashion. This is particularly prominent in the court cards.

One of the three jokers has the following inscription upon it. I find it worthy of being quoted here in whole:



THE CROOKED DECK

What some of our delighted customers have said about the CROOKED DECK...
"This is the best deal I've had in years..."Hot Hands Herbie, Poker Flats, Idaho
"Will add a new twist to your card parties..."
Mrs Zelda frobishier, Crooked creek, Pa.
"You will get ine fast shuffle from the CROOKED DECK ...'
Arnold freed, President, A.freed novelty inc.

Guarantee

In view of the age old truths that all glitterings are not rhinestones nor iron birds a cage make; then we cannot in all justification refund part or whole of purchase under any conditions which.

***

Rather surprisingly, given the odd shape, these cards are surprisingly easy to hold and grip, at least much easier than the circular decks.

 

The cards in hand

 

 

 



Miniature cards ( English)

Miniature cards - anon ( english maker) , 53c. +joker
 
 Another miniature deck, probably from the 1940s-50s.It is ( apparently ) made in England. I wonder why this would be considered worth mentioning, as the deck is printed in a rather crude fashion; with some cards not aligned properly.
   However, it is a pretty little thing - observe the curious illustration on the back , depicting a pair of dogs on leashes, being walked as snow falls. The same design is reproduced on the wrapper
   Another curious feature is the black band that seperates the two halves of the courts. I thing that this was intended to be filled in with a customer's name (but given the poor quality of the printing , the name may not have been legible)
 Lastly, the deck contains a pair of two-of-diamonds. I have no knowlege how that card got there

joker, back,  and wrapper

the other side of the wrapper.

Miniature deck - Anon

Miniature deck- Anon , 52c.
 The miniature ( 4.5 x 2.8 cm) deck is somewhat of a mstery. The Desigin of the court cards indicates that the maker was imitating the English pattern, but there are many diffrernces. (see http://anthonylesq.blogspot.sg/2012/03/international-pattern-part-i.html)

The international pattern IV- Anon (2)

International pattern ( anon ) - 52 c. +2 jokers (lost)
The following deck is very much a curiosity. The courts are the standard international pattern, printed in 3 colours, but note where the suit signs are placed. On an ordinary deck , all the suit signs are located on the top left corner. In this deck, however, on five of the twelve courts, the suit sign is placed on the top right corner.
This feature is found in the most antique of cards, right up till the late 19thc. , where all the suit signs were shifted to the top left
compare ; http://plainbacks.com/F1-F10/Slide10.JPG
and  http://anthonylesq.blogspot.com/2012/03/international-pattern-part-i.html

The international pattern II - anon

International pattern,( anon) 52c. + 2 jokers (lost)
Now, we shall now come towards the second part of our series on the international pattern ( the first part is at http://anthonylesq.blogspot.com/2012/03/international-pattern-part-i.html), in which we shall see another variant of this pattern, by a unknown ( east asian?) maker

Note the following variations from the waddingtons deck ( http://anthonylesq.blogspot.com/2012/03/international-pattern-part-i.html)

I the court cards have been simplified somewhat
II only three colurs have been used- Red, black, and yellow. This is presumabably for reasins of economy
III the indexes are in only 2 corners, probably for the reason stated above.

The International pattern part I - waddingtons

It can be said that the international pattern is the most commonly used type of playing card today. The pattern itself is a version of the cards that were [and still are] used in england today.
In this article, and those that follow it, I shall showcase some versions of this pattern, and compare them.
The first deck , (which we shall compre all the other decks with) is made by Waddingtons.

"Number 1" ( waddingtons) - 52c. + 2 jokers

The following deck very much speaks for itself. However, note the following features;
I - the cards are in the slim "bridge: format - ( 5.8 x 8.8 cm) , as opposed to the slightly wider "poker"format - ( 6.7 x 8.7 cm)
II- the cards are printed in 4 colors- Blue, Red, Yellow, and Black.
III-there are indexes in all 4 corners.

Miniature playing cards ( anon)

Miniature playing cards ( anon), 54c.
The following deck is of 54 cards , and it is so small that it is scarely conceivable that these cards not were used for anything other tha a showpiece. Nevertheless, the maker managed to reproduce, within the space of  22 by 17 millimeters faithfully, evey detail of the standard english pattern.
Note the jokers. evidently, the maker derived the illustrations form through the looking-glass

"Pygmy playing cards" ( De la rue)

"Pygmy playing cards" ( De la rue), c. 1895, 52c.
The following patience deck ( 3 x 4.5 cm) is from 1895, and goes under the name of "Pygmy playing cards"
The deck how some very interesting features:
1- note the pips ( suit-signs) of the cards. They have a pair of letters set into the suit signs. These are a very early version of the "index signs" ( the little numbers and suit signs) that we are so familar with on our cards today.De la rue called this  feature "dexter indexes"
2- Note the aces. they have a little frame in the side, in the shape of the suit, that says "ace". Likewise, to accomodate the "dexter" indexes,  The pips of the 2s and 3s have been shifted to the sides, as you can see in the 3rd image.
3- Note the Jacks. the index sign on them says  "Kn". This is a short form for "Knave"- the old word for a jack.

Oh, and by the way, wishing Q. Elizabeth II a very happy 60th jubilee.

viva regina!