Set of three card games, The Counties of England, published in England by John Jaques & Son about 1870

Given by Miss M. S. Penty

There are three series which cover the whole of England and Wales. Jacques introduced the sets in 1866. Each costs 1/6d.
see also E. 395-1951
Games & Puzzles, C G Goodfellow, 1991

Wood engraving are printed in large sheet, pasted on card and then cut. Occasionally one can see where poor cutting overlaps the illustrations.

*May have been published as late as 1911.

Rewards: see rules
There are two sets of rules; the basic Happy Families and a second which requires counters to be paid as forfeits and rewards.
Forfeits: see rules
No. of Players: any above 3
Equipment required: 61 cards plus a key card and a set of rules

Rules:
RULES FOR THE GAME OF THE COUNTIES OF ENGLAND.

the pack consists of sixty-one cards, containing thirteen county cards, numbered from one to thirteen, and forty-eight Picture cards, illustrating their towns. Each picture card bears the number of the county to which it belongs.
Any number above three can play. The cards to be shuffled and dealt round. The player next to the dealer (or the winner of a previous round) begins the game by asking for a card of any county of which he holds either a town or the county card. If he gets it, he continues asking for what he wants till he is refused. Then the privelege of asking devolves upon the player who refused him; he in his turn asks for any card he requires to complete his set, until he is refused, and so the game goes on.
When a player has the County card in his hand he knows how many towns he requires to make up a set. Every set made up is proclaimed and laid down on the table.
The player who has made up most sets is winner when the cards are all played out, and has the privilege of the first question at the next round.
Any player withholding a card asked for, forfeits a set. Disputes to be settled by reference to the key.

OR THE GAME MAY BE PLAYED THUS:-
1. One player to be chosen as President.
2. The president to retain the county cards, and deal the picture cards round.
3. Six counters to be given to each player and some put in the pool.
4. The president to ask each player in turn for a card of the town belonging to the country which he mentions.
5. If a card of another county is offered, the person forfeits one to the pool; but if the right one is offered, he takes one from the pool.
6. Any person relating a fact or describing scenery, manufactures, etc. connected with his card, receives an additional counter from the pool.
7. The sets being all made up, he who has the most counters wins.

This was a very popular educational card game of the late 19th century. It is a geographical game and played in a similar way to Happy Families, the idea being to collect as many sets as possible. Each set is made up of a lead card giving the name of a county and two to four other cards of places within that county, each with a relevant fact.

Jaques introduced the game in 1866 and it continued to be published well into the 20th century. The original price of each set was 1 s. 6 d. They were made by printing wood engravings on a large sheet of paper. This was then pasted on card and cut. Occasionally one can see where poor cutting overlaps the illustrations.

MISC.16&:1-1969