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Jaques Original Happy Families
Family game

£6.00
OneTribe - Climate Action Counter
Description

Happy Families is a card game traditionally, played in the UK, with special packs of 44 picture cards, grouped into 11 sets of 4. The cards feature pictures of family members or job types, for example, Bun the Baker.

In 1851 the games manufacturer John Jaques of London commissioned a set of drawings from John Tenniel, later Sir John, the chief cartoonist of Punch, for their new game of Happy Families. The game was shown at the Great Exhibition of that year and was an instant success, rapidly superseding similar games such as John Bull in which players also collected sets of four cards.

Jaques' version of Happy Families remained popular until the Second World War but was lucky to survive thereafter. In 1941, during the Blitz, a large bomb destroyed the Hatton Garden factory. However, a safe, which had been kept at the top of the building and had fallen through to the basement, yielded the charred remains of an old pattern book, which included the originals for all the firm's card games and one example of the Happy Families card game - Master Potts the Painter's son. Later the printing plates for the game were discovered intact and so Happy Families lived on.

  • HIGH QUALITY - Children's card game. Includes retro, fun illustrations. Manufactured by Gibsons, ideal gift for kids and families.
  • SUPER RETRO PACKAGING - Perfect for travel and made from high-quality cards that can be enjoyed again and again.
  • AIDS DEVELOPMENT - Perfect toys for your child – Little Gibsons puzzles and games are for kids of every age and help support a child’s creative and cognitive development.
  • QUIRKY BOX DESIGN is perfect for travelling!
  • GREAT GIFT – Games are perfect for growing minds and improving your mental health. The best Christmas gift for children, friends, kids, birthdays.
  • BEAUTIFULLY ILLUSTRATED - original illustrations from decades gone by. Based on classic children's stories.
Details
  • Age 5+
  • For 2 or more players
  • Box dimensions: 7 x 9 x 2cm
  • Product Code: G661
  • Contains 44 picture cards, plus 11 other cards including advertising cards and rule cards!
How to Play

The idea of the game is to collect whole families. All of the cards are dealt as equally as possible and play starts with the first player (usually on the dealer's left) asking for a certain card. The player must already hold one of that family and asks just one other player. If the other player does not have the card it is then their turn to ask. If they do have the card, they have to pass it to the first player, who can ask again. As players form sets of 4 they place them face down in front and the winner is the first player to group all their cards into sets.

About Us

We’re Gibsons, the family-owned jigsaw puzzle and board game company. Founded in London in 1919, we’ve been entertaining generations for over 100 years and our passion is creating the best quality products for all ages.

Made in the UK and Europe, we use the thickest board on the market for our jigsaw puzzles and work with a whole host of talented artists to bring you fresh cool designs, from nostalgic scenes to mesmerising prints. What’s more, our jigsaw puzzles are planet-friendly. They’re made from 100% recycled board and secured with tabs rather than shrink-wrap to reduce single-use plastic waste. 

Our board games are great fun for the whole family. From quick-play games like Mind the Gap and Pass the Bomb, to family and strategy games like Hare & Tortoise, 221b Baker Street and Civilization, our best-selling board games will keep all ages entertained!

Happy Families is a card game traditionally, played in the UK, with special packs of 44 picture cards, grouped into 11 sets of 4. The cards feature pictures of family members or job types, for example, Bun the Baker.

In 1851 the games manufacturer John Jaques of London commissioned a set of drawings from John Tenniel, later Sir John, the chief cartoonist of Punch, for their new game of Happy Families. The game was shown at the Great Exhibition of that year and was an instant success, rapidly superseding similar games such as John Bull in which players also collected sets of four cards.

Jaques' version of Happy Families remained popular until the Second World War but was lucky to survive thereafter. In 1941, during the Blitz, a large bomb destroyed the Hatton Garden factory. However, a safe, which had been kept at the top of the building and had fallen through to the basement, yielded the charred remains of an old pattern book, which included the originals for all the firm's card games and one example of the Happy Families card game - Master Potts the Painter's son. Later the printing plates for the game were discovered intact and so Happy Families lived on.

  • HIGH QUALITY - Children's card game. Includes retro, fun illustrations. Manufactured by Gibsons, ideal gift for kids and families.
  • SUPER RETRO PACKAGING - Perfect for travel and made from high-quality cards that can be enjoyed again and again.
  • AIDS DEVELOPMENT - Perfect toys for your child – Little Gibsons puzzles and games are for kids of every age and help support a child’s creative and cognitive development.
  • QUIRKY BOX DESIGN is perfect for travelling!
  • GREAT GIFT – Games are perfect for growing minds and improving your mental health. The best Christmas gift for children, friends, kids, birthdays.
  • BEAUTIFULLY ILLUSTRATED - original illustrations from decades gone by. Based on classic children's stories.
  • Age 5+
  • For 2 or more players
  • Box dimensions: 7 x 9 x 2cm
  • Product Code: G661
  • Contains 44 picture cards, plus 11 other cards including advertising cards and rule cards!

The idea of the game is to collect whole families. All of the cards are dealt as equally as possible and play starts with the first player (usually on the dealer's left) asking for a certain card. The player must already hold one of that family and asks just one other player. If the other player does not have the card it is then their turn to ask. If they do have the card, they have to pass it to the first player, who can ask again. As players form sets of 4 they place them face down in front and the winner is the first player to group all their cards into sets.

We’re Gibsons, the family-owned jigsaw puzzle and board game company. Founded in London in 1919, we’ve been entertaining generations for over 100 years and our passion is creating the best quality products for all ages.

Made in the UK and Europe, we use the thickest board on the market for our jigsaw puzzles and work with a whole host of talented artists to bring you fresh cool designs, from nostalgic scenes to mesmerising prints. What’s more, our jigsaw puzzles are planet-friendly. They’re made from 100% recycled board and secured with tabs rather than shrink-wrap to reduce single-use plastic waste. 

Our board games are great fun for the whole family. From quick-play games like Mind the Gap and Pass the Bomb, to family and strategy games like Hare & Tortoise, 221b Baker Street and Civilization, our best-selling board games will keep all ages entertained!

FREE DELIVERY ON UK ORDERS OVER £50.

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