Card game
John Jaques & Son Ltd
Category
Sports equipment, games and pastimes
Date
circa 1900
Materials
Cardboard
Measurements
Box - 110 mm (length); 110 mm (width); 20 mm (depth), Each card - 102 mm (length); 50 mm (width), Score card - 91 mm (length); 106 mm (width), Marker - 69 mm (length); 98 mm (width)
Place of origin
Hatton Gardens, 102
Order this imageCollection
Sudbury Hall Museum of Childhood, Derbyshire
NT 659093
Summary
A card game called 'Spelka' published by 'John Jaques and Son Ltd.' (circa 1900) in its original square cardboard box. The edges of the base are pale green and the corners are sellotaped together. The lid is incomplete, there are three out of four sides missing. The one side is sellotaped to the lid. The background of the lid is dark blue, edged with a red line and the words 'The Great Word Game' printed in red and edged with cream. On the top left corner are the words 'Royal Letters, Patent'. A left hand is pictured holding six cream cards in a fan shape and each one has a red letter spelling the word 'Spelka' The game comprises of fifty two cards. Total number of items is 67. Each of the cards has a cream background with a large red capital letter of the alphabet in the middle and 2 of the same letter on 2 diagonal corners with the number 1,2,3 or 4 adjoining these 2 letters. They have a decorated red border around the card. There is a dark green pattern on the reverse side of the cards with 2 hands holding a fan of 6 cards with a green letter spelling the word 'SPELKA' on each. There is also a paper booklet of rules and 10 paper score cards. A cardboard marker for Rubicon and Bezique has 3 circles on one side, each divided into 10 sections with different numbers in each section and a movable metal pointer fastened to the midddle of each cirlce. On the reverse side is a list of values of Bezique scores. There is also a paper advertising appraisal of Spelka by the Daily Mail and a piece of plain paper used by some players of the game with the names of the players and their scores written in pencil. Total number of items is 67.
Provenance
Donated to the Museum of Childhood by Mrs C. Francis in April 1984.
Makers and roles
John Jaques & Son Ltd, engraver and publisher