We don’t have an image of this object online yet. V&A Images may have a photograph that we can’t show online, but it may be possible to supply one to you. Email us at vaimages@vam.ac.uk for guidance about fees and timescales, quoting the accession number: MISC.866-1986
Find out about our images

Not currently on display at the V&A

Snap

Card Game
1950s (published)
Place of origin

Design: chromolithographs, the reverse sides printed in a red pattern


Object details

Categories
Object type
Titles
  • Snap (manufacturer's title)
  • a favourite and amusing round game (manufacturer's title)
Brief description
Part of card game of Snap (40 cards) published in England between 1920 and 1940; Card, English, 1920-40
Physical description
Design: chromolithographs, the reverse sides printed in a red pattern
DimensionsSize: 3½in x 2¼in; box 3 3/4in x 2 3/8in
Object history
GORDON NICHOLS, printed with pen on one side

*Misc.181-1978 advert - Lists the card game as HP Gibosn & Sons Ltd, London, EC1 with GIBSONS printed under the illustration of the box - text:
The Most Beautiful, Artistic and Instructive Card Games Made. Printed on Fine Cardboard, Enamelled on both sides nd printed with Ornamental design on back. Each pack with Rules and Telescopic Box. The cards composing the games are printed in colours from new and original designs of a most taking character, and the games will be found highly amusing for both young and old.
Historical context
Rewards: n/a
Forfeits: see rules
No. of Players: any
Equipment required: 40 cards arranged in 10 sets of 4
9 cards (from a total of 12) arranged in 3 sets of 3 (eash set missing one card)
card box covered with red print

Rules:
The basic rules for the game of SNAP.

Like Happy Families, Snap cards are arranged in groups, usually two but may be more, but each card in a group bears the same picture.
The object of the game is to win all the cards.

One player deals out all the card, one at a time and face down. It does not matter if some players have one card more than others. Each player puts his cards in a pile face down in front of him and the players are not allowed to look at their cards.
The dealer or the player to his left turns over the top card of his pile, and the next player does likewise and so on around the players until any player sees that the cards on the top of any two face-up piles are the same.
The first player to shout SNAP when there are matching cards collects both of these and puts them face down on the bottom of his pile. Players now continue to turn the cards over as before, beginning with the player to the left of the last one to turn over.
SNAP POOL, if two players shout `snap' together, the matching cards are put face up in a pool in the centre. Players then continue to turn over cards, and the pool is won by the first player to shout Snap Pool when the twop card of any player's pile matches the top card in the pool.
When a player runs out of face down cards he simply turns over his face up cards when it is his next turn.
PENALTY, there are different rules for when a player calls `snap' in error:-
1. the player gives one card from his face down pile to each of the other players
2. the player's face down pile is put into the central pool to be won like an ordinary snap pool.

The game is generally played with forfeits, and the rules are simple enough for young children to enjoy playing. The cards are dealt equally among the players, face down and the dealer starts by turning over his or her top card to reveal an illustration. The next player to the left does likewise and, if that card matches the first, he or she `snaps' the first player, who pays a forfeit by giving up one counter.

Should the third player also have a similar card, he or she `snaps' the second player, who then has to pay a double forfeit by giving up two counters. The game continues until all the players but one have lost their forfeits and that remaining player is declared the winner. The game may be played without the forefeits.

EASY SNAP
This version is particularly suitable for very young children. Instead of having individual face up piles, each player plays his cards into a central face up pile. Players shout SNAP when the top two cards are of the same value.
SPEED SNAP
In this faster version of the game, players still turn their cards up one at a time but all players do so together.,
Production
H P Gibson & sons ltd London; copyright designs and titles, made in England.
Collection
Accession number
MISC.866-1986

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdMarch 4, 2000
Record URL
Download as: JSON