Improved Playing Cards.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Feb., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 7th Nov., 1892-Accepted, 17th Dec., 1892
Improved Playing Cards.
I, WILLIAM KIMBERLEY of Forestdale Mayfield Road Moseley, near
Birmingham, Tool Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
My improved playing cards are made in the usual four suits of thirteen cards
each; namely, diamonds, hearts, spades and clubs, but differ from ordinary cards in
having combined with each suit a special distinct nationality of style and
appearance.
For example let us suppose Great Britain to be represented by the suit of
diamonds, France by spades, the United States by hearts, and Germany by clubs.
This arrangement can be varied if desired.
Instead of the ordinary ace card, I make an ace which exhibits an illustration
of the representative flag of the nationality represented by the particular suit to
which it belongs.
Instead of the usual king queen and knave, I propose to place on the
corresponding cards of my suits, a good portrait of the rulers or representative
men and women of the countries indicated, and I do this without altering the
present designation of the card.
Thus the queen of diamonds remains queen of diamonds still, although it may
bear a portrait of the Queen of England or the Princess of Wales, and is easily
recognisable as such.
The other cards, numbered 2 to 10, I make more distinct than at present and
easier for use, in the following manner. Instead of indicating the nine of diamonds
by nine pips each representing a diamond, I place one large diamond in the centre
of the card, this diamond occupying about half the area of the card, and coloured
as in the present suit. In the centre of the large diamond is a line above and below
which is a large and distinct figure 9, so arranged that whichever end of the card
is uppermost, one of these figures is presented to the eye. The line and figures
can be shewn by leaving the space they occupy uncoloured. In some cases I make
these ordinary cards bear also a representative figure. Thus for ten of diamonds,
I select a duke or archbishop, for the nine of diamonds a marquis and so on, using
some suitable title or character for each.
At the left hand corner of each end of each card, I place a small designation of
its value. Thus on the six of hearts, I place a small heart with the word six
beneath it. I use black for spades and clubs and red color for diamonds and hearts
as at present.
.
The value of each card held in the hand can therefore be readily seen.
Dated this 8th day of February 1892.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Playing Cards.
1, WILLIAM KIMBERLEY of Forestdale Mayfield Road, Moseley, near
Birmingham, Tool Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to he performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to an improved style of playing cards, of the well known
kind, and capable of playing the same games as the ordinary packs.
My improved playing cards are made in the usual four suits of thirteen cards
each, namely diamonds, hearts, spades and clubs, but differ from ordinary cards
in having combined with each suit a special distinct nationality of style and
appearance.
For example let us suppose Great Britain to be represented by the suit of
diamonds, France by spades, the United States by hearts, and Germany by clubs.
This arrangement can however be varied as may be desired.
Instead of the ordinary ace card, I make an ace which exhibits an illustration
of the representative flag of the nationality represented by the particular suit to
which it belongs.
Instead of the usual king, queen and knave, I propose to place on the
corresponding cards of my suits, a good portrait of the rulers, or representative
men and women, of the countries indicated, and I do this without altering the
present designation of the card.
Thus the queen of diamonds remains queen of diamonds still and is easily
recognisable as such although it may bear a portrait of the Queen of England or
the Princess of Wales.
The other cards, numbered 2 to 10, I make more distinct than at present and
easier for use as shewn in the accompanying drawing. For instance instead of
indicating the five of hearts by five pips each representing a heart; I place as
shewn in the drawing one large heart in the centre of the card, this heart occupying
about half the area of the card, and coloured as in the cards now in use. In the
centre of the large heart is a line, above and below which is a large distinct figure 5,
so arranged that whichever end of the card is uppermost, one of these figures is
presented to the eye. The line and figures can be shewn by leaving the space they
occupy uncoloured. In some cases I make these ordinary cards bear also a
representative figure. Thus for ten of diamonds I may select a duke or archbishop,
for the nine of diamonds a marquis, for the eight a bishop, seven and following
numbers à baron, count, general, admiral, prefect, mayor, soldier, sailor, or any
other officer of state or eminent person using some suitable title or character for
each card.
At the left corner of each end of each card 1 place a small designation of its
value. Thus on the five of hearts I place a small heart with the word five beneath
it. I use black for spades and clubs, and red color for diamonds and hearts as at
present.
The value of each card held in the hand can therefore be readily seen.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a pack of playing cards of the usual four suits the combination with the
ordinary designation of hearts, diamonds, spades and clubs of a separate nationality
for each suit together with portraits of eminent or ruling persons of that nationality
depicted on the picture cards of the suit and the ace having the national flag as
- herein described and set forth.
1.5
T
1

page_text: 2. In a pack of playing cards the method of denoting the value of the card by a
large diamond, spade, club, or heart in the centre, on the face of which is shewn
in duplicate the numerical value of the card, the said number with a small
representation of the suit being also represented at the left hand corner of each
end of the card so that the precise value of the card can be easily read whichever
end is uppermost, as herein described and set forth.
3. In a pack of playing cards, the optional combination with the ordinary plain
cards numbered two to ten of some person of rank, title, or celebrity, as herein
described and set forth.
Dated this 7th day of November 1809
S. S. BROMHEAD,
97, Newgate Street, London, E.C., Patent Agent.