IMPROVED PRINTING OR DEVICING OF CARDS BY WHICH
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Mathew Henry Cowell, of the City of Buffalo,
State of New York, in the United States of America, Book-keeper, for
the Invention of "IMPROVED PRINTING OR DEVICING OF CARDS BY WHICH

page_text: "
The Invention will be well understood by the following detailed
description: Sixty-four cards are employed to form a pack; these
being divided into four different suits called "colours,' each suit
comprising fifteen cards and printed with a distinctive colour. These
sixty cards are divided into two classes, viz., the first class from 1 to 5
"10" of each colour are called "tableaux" cards, the remaining five
cards of each suit from "11" to "15" being called "puppets." There
are in addition four extra or odd cards called "scallawags.”
All of the above-mentioned tableaux cards have a vignette of a scene
in the adventures of "Punch" and "Judy" printed in the centre of 1
each card, and having also a distinctive number at each end or corner of
the card on the distinctive coloured ground of each suit or
" colour."
The "
'puppet" cards ("11 to 15" inclusive) in each colour have
only an individual character represented in the middle of cach, and also
the numbers at each corner like the tableaux cards. The names of 1
these cards are respectively "Judy," "baby," "clown," "Toby,"
"doctor."
Each of the "scallawag" cards (4) has a single character represented
on it, and in the appropriate colour of cach suit, so that if cither be
turned up in dealing it will give the colour for the "trump" suit. 2
Their names are Punch," "constable," Jack Ketch," and "Old
Nick."
"
The game can be played by from 4 to 12 persons, and with or without
counters to mark the points.
The main object of the game is to play out all the cards in hand as
soon as possible in the manner herein-after described.
The dealer is called the "showman." He deals all the cards singly
and face up, the last cards indicating the trump colour.
The first player is the person next to the dealer (as is usual), and is
called the "drummer boy," who "opens,the show" by leading off either
with the lowest numbered "puppet" of trump colour he has or any
cards which follow each other in consecutive numbers of the same
colour; or any pair cards (cards of the same numbers but different
colours), or he may play the lowest card in his hand of any colour.
After he has played by playing out as many cards as his hand will allow,
any other player having the next running card of the same colour plays

page_text: it, and then runs it again if he can, or failing that "pairs it" if he can;
in which case he can run again on the new colour. The object being as
before stated to play out all the cards in hand as soon as possible;
the original and distinctive rule peculiar to this game being to run or
pair as often as the cards will allow.
Any player as he gets the chance plays his cards in the same manner,
and when nobody else can run after the last card played, then the one who
played that card can play all the scallawags he may hold, and then lead
off again as may best suit his hand, and guided by the cards previously
played "scoring" or "points" as each puppet of trumps, or a
scallawag" is played the "showman (dealer) scores to the player one
point for each "puppet" or two for each "scallawag."
"
Should the "showman hold "Old Nick" and can play him out, he
collects two counters or scores two points from cach and every player,
and the "show" is ended for that deal or "round." This is called a
**
"general scare."
Except in the case of a "general scare "the ono playing out all his
cards first wins the game or "show" called "played out," and he
receives three points or three counters from the "showman," and all the
rest of the players pay two counters or give two points to the "showman,"
the deal then passes on to the next player who in turn becomes the
showman and so on. Ordinarily the "showman" only scores what he
makes, the same as the other players.
'
"
The "scallawag can only be played when the holder finds he has
just played a card to which no one can run after with the next
numbered card of the same colour. The cards are played face up in
front of each player for convenience of reference.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Mathew Henry Cowell in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 12th November 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, MATHEW
HENRY COWELL, of the City of Buffalo, State of New York, in the
United States of America, Book-keeper, send greeting.

page_text: .
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twelfth day of May, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the thirty-
seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Mathew Henry Cowell, Her special
licence that I, the said Mathew Henry Cowell, my executors, admini-
strators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Mathew Henry Cowell,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during
the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IM-
PROVED PRINTING OR DEVICING OF CARDS BY WHICH GAMES FOR AMUSEMENT
CAN BE PLAYED," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Mathew Henry Cowell, my executors or administrators, by an instru-
ment in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause
the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters

page_text: "
"
e numbered from one to fifteen inclusive. The first ten cards of each
colour are called "tableaux," and represent the "play of Punch and
ady" in 10 separate acts, complete in each "set or "colour." The
ext five cards of each "color" (from 11 to 15 inclusive) are called
puppets," representing the individual minor characters of the play, and
aplicated in the several colours. The four odd cards represent the
scallawags” of the play. Description of the tableaux in cach colour.

page_text: :
Rules and directions for playing the game of Punch and Judy :-
1. This game can be played by from 2 to 12 players, with or without
counters, the counter game is however best adapted for the young folks
35 are not used
or when a large number play together. When "counters
the same number of points to be scored instead of counters for any
"play" made, but the "dealer" scores nothing except for what he
"makes in play, the same as the rest of the players.
"
2. The first deal to be determined by the first "Judy" dealt round.
The dealer each new round (on show) to be called the showman, and
the next player to the left of "showman" each time to be called:
drummer boy."
**
3. The showman" after shuffling and cutting deals out all the cards
singly, face up, as far as they will go round, the last card dealt being
"trump color."
(When four or a less number of persons play some
of the last cards of the pack cach time may be left undealt on the
table.)
4. Each player spreads his cards out in front of him, face up, arranging
them in "colors" and in order of their "numbers."
5. The drummer boy " then open the show by leading off either
with the lowest numbered puppet of trump color he may hold, or any
running card (cards which follow cach other in number of the same
color). Or any "pair cards" (cards of the same number but of different
colors); or the lowest numbered card in his hand of any "color."
6. The "scallawags" can only be played when the holder finds he has
just played a card to which no one else can "run," after, with the next
numbered card of the same "color."
"
7. After the drummer boy has opened the show and played out as
many cards as his hand will allow (see rule 8), any one having the next
running card of the same "color" plays it, and then runs it again if
he can, or failing that he "pairs" it if he can, in which case he can
run again on the new color.
8. Any player as he gets the chance plays out his cards in the same
manner, the distinctive and original rule peculiar to this game being to
run or pair as often as the cards in hand will allow, and when nobody
else can run after the last card played, then the one who played that
* card can play all the "scallawags "he may hold and then lead off again
with whatever card suits his hand best. All the "rules" of the game

page_text: are really comprised in Nos. 7 and 8, the others being more in the nature
of directions and explanations.
9. As each "puppet" of "trump color" or "scallawag" is played,
the showman pays to the player one counter for any such puppet, two
counters each for "policeman" and "Jack Ketch," three counters for
Punch," and four counters for "Old Nick."
66
10. Anybody holding both "Punch" and "Judy," and who can play
them out together collects two counters from each of the rest of the
players, this is called a donation party.
11. Should the "showman" hold "Old Nick" and can play him out
he collects two counters from each player, and the "show" is ended for
that round and the deal passes on. This is called a "general scare."
12. Except in the case of a general scare the one playing out all
his cards first wins the game called played out, and receives three
counters from the "showman." The rest of the players pay to the
"showman " one counter for each and every card left in hand unplayed.
Each suit is not only to be distinguished by the difference of color, but
if convenient may have the tablets on which the numbers are printed
made in distinctive shapes or emblems, for example "crowns," "shields,"
stars, or crosses,' so that the suits may be known by these emblems
as well as by the colors.
"
"
And having now described the nature of my said Invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim as my
Invention the improved printing or devicing of cards in the manner set
forth, by which games for amusement can be played, such cards
consisting of the pack, and available for playing the game designated
the puppet show of Punch and Judy, according to the rules and directions
as herein-before specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Mathew Henry Cowell, have here-
unto set my hand and scal, this Twenty-third day of October,
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four.