Lambert, George [1873-1930] C. W. Faulkner & Co.

[Animal Misfitz card game] card matching game with several Australian related images.

London: C. W. Faulkner & Co, Nd ca. 1902. A group of unrecorded playing cards illustrated by George Lambert, revered Australian artist who was an official artist for Australia in W.W.I. Lambert illustrated several sets of playing cards for Faulkner's company. His early signature appeared "G.L." and later "G. Lambert".

According to the very fine website World of Playing Cards, Lambert's illustrations decorate the sets "Bargains" (c. 1900, signed "G.L."); "Nursery Rhymes Misfitz" (ca. 1900) unsigned, but with the same formatting of the title as these animal cards, printed in light gray, small caps, italics); an unknown titled set from Faulkner's Misfitz series, (c.1902); "Hurry-Up Misfitz" (ca. 1907), some of these cards are signed G.L. (as ours are) and some signed G. Lambert); and "Shakespearian Misfitz" (c.1907/08) unsigned. Unknown how many cards are in this set; the total seems to be approximately between 56 and 72.

66 cards making up 22 animal characters each made up of 3 separate cards. The animals include an "emu" in an Australian digger hat named "Gobble"; Penguin (dressed in top hat and tuxedo collar, pince nez dangling from his tie); Jacko (monkey); Polly; Goosey; Piggy; Scottie (sheep dog playing the bagpipe); Moosoo (elegant poodle with top hat, walking stick) ; Mouser; Billy (billy goat in Alpine climbing gear); Spoony (spoonbill bird with fishing tackle); King Lion (crowned and bearing scepter); Baa Baa Black Sheep; Quack Quack; Mother Owl; Qua Qua (New Caledonian crow dressed as a Bobby); Bunnie; Jumbo (elephant with large valise lettered, "Mr. Elephant Passenger to Jungle Junction"); Robin; Reynard (stealthy fox absconding with duck); Brownie (squirrel); and Dicky (reading "The Donkey's Bray").

66 cards making up 22 animal characters each made up of 3 separate cards; each card measures 3 3/4 x 2 1/2". Verso printed with British flag and heraldic devices, with motto "Honi Soit Qui Mal Y Pense". Some cards with cracks, minor staining; King Lion's top most card with some loss to right side of card. Not found on Trove or WorldCat. Good + condition. Item #25912

Price: $475.00