The Old Maid card is in the bottom row center (next to the box). The front of each card features a sketch of a 'character' in the game and their name printed on the card. The backs (lower right in the photograph) have a purplish diamond pattern. There are 43 cards (6.3cm long x 4.2cm wide) in this deck. 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. The deck was manufactured by Witman Publishing Company, Racine, Wisconsin (US). The photograph at the right is of an 'Old Maid' deck donated to the Museum in 1971. Perhaps these names had popular or literary associations in the English speaking world at that time the game was produced. Styon Driland, Professor Fisticuff Smack, Madame Dulcet, Melodia Screech. Piscator Catchnought, Nurse Patience, Mrs. Some of the 'characters' in addition to the 'old maid' are: Miss Flirtina Fairytoe, Herr Hans Zweibier, Mr. Instructions for playing the game are included in the box.Įach card includes an illustration of a person with their name printed at the bottom of the card. This special deck includes 23 cards (7.5cm long x 5cm wide). The sketch illustrates the 'jolly' old maid drinking tea with her cats by a fireside!. The top is covered with a textured paper. The bottom (not shown) is 10.8cm long x 8.1cm wide x 2.2cm high. The box top is 11.2cm long x 8.5cm wide x 1.3cm high. The deck is contained in the box pictured above. 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 pictured on the right and titled The Jolly Game of Old Maid was donated to the Museum in 1983. 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.

In using a standard deck, the Queen of Spades (traditionally) is the Old Maid. A special deck is not required for this game. The game of Old Maid can be played with a standard deck of playing cards, as many people have done over the years.

Circus character old maid cards