National Museum of Play Online Collections

Pit Bull and Bear Edition

card game

1919

The founder of Parker Brothers, George Parker, had another success with his invention of the card game Pit. Next to Parker's most successful card game Rook, Pit sold briskly after its introduction in 1904 and has sold briskly ever since. Pit was the first card game where all players play at once, trying to "corner the market" on a specific commodity, marked as suits on the cards. Some editions feature bull and bear cards which alter card values and make the game even more fun. The play can become raucous as players cry out the number of the cards they seek. Because of the luck element even new players may corner a market and win over experienced players. This particular Pit deck dates from 1919.

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