Published January 12, 2011• Updated September 15, 2023
A collecting game published in two series: the first series featuring Western Europe and the second series Eastern/Southern Europe.
Europe United KingdomJaquesTopographical Card Games Add to Collection
Kingdoms of Europe, c.1895
This collecting game, similar to Counties of England, was published in two series: the first series featuring Western Europe and the second series Eastern/Southern Europe. The city cards are beautifully illustrated with coloured engravings, whilst the Key cards depict national flags.
Left: the front of the box from the 1st series, showing a decorative pattern with the text "A New Round Game, Beautifully Illustrated".
Europe experienced a period of unprecedented rapid expansion around the globe during the last third of the nineteenth century. European nation-states had become very powerful because of industrialization and the organizational efficiency of the nation-state, which led to easy dominance of non-European areas of the world. This Victorian family card game captures a snap-shot of European nations from this time.
First Series - Western Europe
Above: cards from the first series of John Jaques & Son's Kingdoms of Europe card game, c.1885, 45 cards in telescopic box, magnificently depicted at a time of powerful dominance, from the time of the inauguration of the Eiffel Tower in Paris and the revival of the Olympic Games in Athens. The cards have square corners and plain coloured backs. Courtesy Rex Pitts.
Second Series - Eastern and Southern Europe
Above: 16 cards from the second series of John Jaques & Son's Kingdoms of Europe card game, c.1885, 45 cards in telescopic box, featuring cities from Eastern and Southern Europe during the late 19th century. The cards have square corners and plain coloured backs. See the box►
Note from Jamie
I noticed you were missing two cards out of the Kingdoms of Europe first series. England London and Leeds I happen to have a full deck so was wondering if you want pictures of them. I have attached pictures of London and Leeds.
By Simon Wintle
Member since February 01, 1996
View ArticlesContact Simon Wintle
Founder and editor of the World of Playing Cards since 1996. He is a former committee member of the IPCS and was graphics editor of The Playing-Card journal for many years. He has lived at various times in Chile, England and Wales and is currently living in Extremadura, Spain. Simon's first limited edition pack of playing cards was a replica of a seventeenth century traditional English pack, which he produced from woodblocks and stencils.
Leave a Reply
Sign in with Google Create Account
Trending Articles
Popular articles from the past 28 days
1
Printing Presses
2
Ganjifa - Playing Cards from India
3
Moguls, Highlanders and Merry Andrews
4
Hand-drawn transformation cards, c1875
5
Deportivo Alavés 1921-2021
6
Art pack, Austria
7
Tarot – Images du Pays Basque
8
Classification of Numeral Card Designs in French-suited packs
9
Hanuman and the Five Riders
10
Warner Bros 100th Anniversary
11
The Douce Collection
12
Medizin Skat
13
Holidays – les côtes françaises
14
The Henry Hart Puzzle
15
Sissi playing cards
16
Naipes Kukuxumusu
17
Euskal Herriko Mitologia
18
Líneas rojas 2016
19
Opernkarte I
20
Playing Card Research Archives maintained by The Worshipful Company of Makers of Playing Cards
21
Jeu des 7 familles basques
Related Articles
Woodblock and Stencil Jack of Hearts
A limited edition art print of the Jack of Hearts 1984 woodblock joker.
Woodblock and Stencil Queen of Clubs
A limited edition art print of the Queen of Clubs 1984 woodblock joker.
Woodblock and Stencil Joker
A limited edition art print of the 1984 woodblock joker.
Woodblock and Stencil King of Diamonds
A limited edition art print of the King of Diamonds 1984 woodblock joker.
1875
Hand-drawn transformation cards, c1875
A complete set of hand-drawn transformation cards from c1875, using a standard De La Rue pack.
Classification of Numeral Card Designs in French-suited packs
The classification of numeral cards in French-suited packs, covering various pip designs in over 400...
The Douce Collection
The Douce Collection of playing cards in the Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford.
The Henry Hart Puzzle
Explore the intricate history and unique design variations of Henry Hart's playing cards, tracing th...
Playing Card Research Archives maintained by The Worshipful Company of Makers of Playing Cards
The Worshipful Company of Makers of Playing Cards maintains an extensive archive of materials from n...
1983
The Art of Erté
Luxury playing cards displaying artwork by Erté, published in 1983 by Sobranie of London.
2006
The Chamber of 52 Cards
Playing cards published by Peter Wood as a tribute to the rock band Genesis.
1675
English cards from the reign of Charles II
This article explores a historic pack of English playing cards from circa 1675, likely used by King ...
1961
Sweetule Natural History cards
Small cards featuring natural history subjects, given away with packets of sweet cigarettes.
1875
Lend Me Five Shillings
or “Her Majesty’s Privy Purse” - a merry round-the-table game published by D. Ogilvy.
1875
Laughing Made Easy
a Victorian card game published by D. Ogilvy.
2002
Classic Card Games for Kids
A boxed set of playing cards, Happy Families and an alphabet pack with rules for 22 games.
2013
Les plaques émaillées d’Antoine Vollon
54 different enamel plaques depicting silk manufacture, by the Lyon artist Antoine Vollon.
1904
So-Lah – A Game of Music
An early 20th century domino-type musical card game by Goodall.
2018
Marmite
Fifty-Four images celebrating a UK savoury spread, that has been around one hundred and twenty two y...
1877
Word Making and Word Taking
How crossword and spelling games became popular.
2021
Film Noir
A deck of 55 cards, celebrating hard boiled heroes, wise-cracking women, mean streets, guns and gums...
2016
Science Fiction
A deck of 55 cards, celebrating a time when Science Fiction truly was, Science Fiction.
2004
The Beatles playing cards
Two packs featuring photos of The Beatles issued by the same publisher in 2004 and 2005.
1991
Costume Playing Cards
Four centuries of costumes from the Costume Court at the Victoria and Albert Museum.
2020
Commoners playing cards
Created by Ian Cumpstey dedicated to the common land and the countryside.
2019
Liber Ludorum
Liber Ludorum playing cards created by Ian Cumpstey in the insular style, United Kingdom, 2019.
2018
Pike and Clover playing cards
Pike and Clover playing cards created by Ian Cumpstey, Cumbria, UK, 2018.
2023
Inglewood Hunting Deck
Inglewood Hunting Deck created by Ian Cumpstey, United Kingdom, 2023.
2010
Pin-Ups
A deck of 55 cards celebrating a golden age of cheeky, naughty, bold and curvy ladies in film.
2008
Classic Movie Posters
A deck of 55 cards presenting vintage classic movies and their stars.
2014
That’s Entertainment
A deck of 55 cards celebrating 20th Century vaudeville, musicals and cabaret.
1981
British Monarchs
Commemorating the royal wedding of Charles, Prince of Wales to Lady Diana Spencer on the 29th
2005
Stunning photos of a selection of US and UK music artists.
2004
The Beatles • Yellow Submarine
A colourful deck celebrating the 1968 animated feature film based on the Lennon/McCartney song of th...
1980
Jeu de la Belle Epoque
Jeu de la Belle Epoque, remembering a golden age of optimism, progress and elegance.
1999
Dutch Court playing cards
Games & Print Services’ version of the Dutch pattern.
2013
Past Masters’ Association Presentation Pack
The Worshipful Company of Makers of Playing Cards Past Masters’ Association Presentation Pack, 2013....
The Search for New Games in the late 19th century
A few new games survived and are still around today; most came and went and are only witnessed in th...
1904
Miniature Card Dominoes
A miniature set of Goodall domino cards (5.9 x 3.5 cms) still in perfect condition.
1875
Bezique and Whist boxed sets by T. Drayton & Son, London, c.1875.
2011
Colour doodle deck
“1952-2002 commemorative deck” customised with doodles by an uncredited artist, UK, 2011.
2020
Alice in Wonderland: we’re all mad here
Alice in Wonderland themed playing cards, UK, 2020.
2023
Wren 300 playing cards
Papercuts by Chloe Campbell of the 52 Wren churches in the City of London.
2023
Marlow playing cards
Visitor attractions and businesses to be found in Marlow, Buckinghamshire.
