Other Card Games

Title

Other Card Games

Description

1986. "Fables." Learn As You Play. Illustrations by Gesine Mahoney. Fax-Pax. Great Britain. Gift of Wendy Wright, June, '93, of Mary Pat Ryan, Oct., '93, of Amy Drake, Dec., '93, and of Maryanne Rouse, Jan., '94. Two extra sets for $6.75 each at Puzzle Box, Milwaukee, Dec., '90.

Thirty-six cards, each with a fable printed on one side and a titled colored picture on the other. The style of the illustrations is soft and cute. How one "plays" is not clear. The best illustrations include: "The Wolf in Sheep's Clothing," "The Trees and the Axe," and "The Stork and the Farmer." The lion has not bad breath but the smell of a skunk from a fight. WC adds a phase: "You only saved me for a reward." The spilt milk is kicked over by a cow; the point is that tomorrow is another day. The FS illustration misses the point by having the fox serve solid chunks of food on plates. The cards' packaging changes slightly in the new edition, apparently from 1989.

1989 "Deutsche Tierfabeln: Quartettspiel für Kinder von 10 Jahren an." Auswahl und Text: Karlheinz Rahn. Gestaltung: Sigrid Geisler. Pössneck: Verlag für Lehrmittel. Gift of Herrn von Fuchs, July, 98. One extra partial copy.

There are eight "quartets," each presenting the fables of one animal family: fox, wolf, lion, bear, hare, horse, ass, and birds. There are also two cards listing the eight quartets and each card within the quartet. There is also a booklet of the texts that accompany the thirty-two fable pictures here. I imagine the game could be played like our "Authors." The colored illustrations are naïve and lively. My favorites include "Der Tanzbär," "Die mutlosen Hasen," and "Das Kutschpferd." This gift is especially treasured because it comes from the old German Democratic Republic.

1992? "Reineke Fuchs." 32 plastic-coated cards featuring a backing, numbering system, Kaulbach image, and two or three lines from Goethe's text. Gift of Herrn von Fuchs, July, '98. One extra partial copy.

There are eight "quartets," each presenting a phase of Reynard's story. The numbering system assigns a numeral in a circle within the black-and-white image on each page for the quartet—from "1" to "8." Above this, outside the image, is a set of from one to four symbols like asterisks. So each card is unique: the second card, e.g., of the fifth quartet. The backing of each card presents the same set of six fox images in a checkerboard pattern balancing light and shadow. I believe that Herr von Fuchs arranged for the production of these lovely laminated cards himself. I am sorry that my favorite image of the cat attacking the local priest is not here. Perhaps the most graphic of the cards here is the third card of the sixth quartet, in which the severed head of the rabbit is brought forth from the wallet.

2010? "Fishing for Fables." Card game after the pattern of "Go-Fish." 13 quartets of identical fables. 3½" x 4½". Anonymous student creative work.

Three features impress me with this student's work. First, it's a great idea. Secondly, the cards are well made. Thirdly, the designs for the individual cards are well chosen. They seem to be stickers applied to card stock before it was encased in double layers of covering. Three samples and the universal verso are pictured above.

Date

1986

1989

1992?

2010?

Source

Two extra sets for $6.75 each at Puzzle Box, Milwaukee, Dec., '90.

Gift of Herrn von Fuchs, July, 98. One extra partial copy

Gift of Herrn von Fuchs, July, '98.

Anonymous student creative work.

Subject

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Card Games
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Other Card Games
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