National Museum of Play Online Collections

Old Maid

card game

ca. 1890

This version of Old Maid was produced by Clark & Sowdon, an early New York game manufacturer. The cover image features an Old Maid riding a bicycle and wearing athletic knickers-- rapidly becoming common for bicycle riding around 1890. But as an "up to date" Old Maid she is something of a negative cariacature. Not everyone approved of such physical activity--or apparel--for women, and her costume is greatly exaggerated. Does the image hint that women who did this might remain unmarried? Interestingly, the instructions with this deck label the "Tramp" as the Old Maid card, not a card with this picture on it.

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