Jim Linderman blog about surface, wear, form and authenticity in self-taught art, outsider art, antique american folk art, antiques and photography.
Old Old Maid Cards and an Old Old Card Game
Since even the name of the game is "Old Maid" we shouldn't be surprised the images might be a bit sexist. In the gaming world, the concept is known as a "going out game" as the idea is to get rid of your cards. From Victorian days, Old Maid is a card game with a universal spread and each country has a funny name for it. "Scabby Queen" in the UK, "Ungguy-ungguyan" in the Philippines, "Baba-nuki" in Japan, "Blind King" in Egypt, "Gir-Gir" in Turkey, "Stink" in Brazil. The Dutch call it "Black Pete" and play it in the "jackass" style. You do not need vintage sexist cards, any deck of cards will do, but you have to remove one and give it a nasty name. I don't think I want to see the commercial versions of "Stink" or "Scabby Queen" at all.
Sample Old Maid cards, c. 1940 Collection Jim Linderman
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That last card looks like Dorothy Parker. So do two others if you recombine them. Sorry, I pinched two of your images for my blog today, but I gave you credit for them, and will promptly remove at your request.
ReplyDeleteGo right ahead! Same goes for everyone, as long as you CREDIT and link, feel free! I like pictures to get around.
ReplyDeleteBaba-nuki sounds so much better, I might have use it some time.
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting these! They are the same Old Maid cards that I played with as a kid in the sixties. I'd like to find a deck of them to buy but I've only found ones with other images on the internet. If you know more info about them I'd appreciate it!
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