The game of Old Maid can be played with a standard deck of playing cards, as many people have done over the years. A special deck is not required for this game. In using a standard deck, the Queen of Spades (traditionally) is the Old Maid. "Point Cards" are the Spade suit. Nevertheless, here are two decks in the Museum collection that were designed especially for this game - one going back to the early days of the 20th century, and one produced and sold in the 1970s.
The deck pictured on the right and titled The Jolly Game of Old Maid was donated to the Museum in 1983.
It was produced by JAP, a British company, printed in Bavaria (Germany), and then distributed in North America by JWS & sons (New York) about 1900.
The deck is contained in the box pictured above. The box top is 11.2cm long x 8.5cm wide x 1.3cm high. The bottom (not shown) is 10.8cm long x 8.1cm wide x 2.2cm high. The top is covered with a textured paper. The sketch illustrates the "jolly" old maid drinking tea with her cats by a fireside!.
This special deck includes 23 cards (7.5cm long x 5cm wide). Card backs are plain. Instructions for playing the game are included in the box.
Each card includes an illustration of a person with their name printed at the bottom of the card. Some of the "characters" in addition to the "old maid" are: Miss Flirtina Fairytoe, Herr Hans Zweibier, Mr. Patsy Praty Potheen, Mr. Piscator Catchnought, Nurse Patience, Mrs. DiAnna Tomey, Mr. Sam Hercules Amstrong, Mr. Styon Driland, Professor Fisticuff Smack, Madame Dulcet, Melodia Screech. Perhaps these names had popular or literary associations in the English speaking world at that time the game was produced.
The photograph at the right is of an "Old Maid" deck donated to the Museum in 1971. The deck was manufactured by Witman Publishing Company, Racine, Wisconsin (US). The box (lower left of the photograph) is the type in which the bottom (6.6cm long x 4.5cm wide x 2cm high) has an open left side to hold the cards, and then is slipped into the top (6.7cm long x 4.6cm wide x 2.2cm high) which has an open right side.
There are 43 cards (6.3cm long x 4.2cm wide) in this deck. The backs (lower right in the photograph) have a purplish diamond pattern. The front of each card features a sketch of a "character" in the game and their name printed on the card. The Old Maid card is in the bottom row center (next to the box). some of the characters in the game are: Wacky Witch, Biddpy Dabb, Hugo Hunt, Fanny Flint, Grannie Smiles, John Law, Greasy Grimes, Art Smart, Kuku Klown, Salty Junk, Husky Hank, Hiram Hay, Lotta Noise, Tillie Tumble, Gusto Graft, Molly Meo, Choosy Chef, Hedda Howell, Tippy Tubbs, Betty Bumps, Petunia Pill. It appears that these names do not have a popular or literary association, but are the product of the designer's imagination.
Last update March 10, 2010