One of the 8 cards has some kind of ink transfer from an unrelated source (separately pictured), and some of the backs have a child’s writing on them in what appears to be crayon. There are no torn cards, but two of the cards have a pinhole through one of the numbers. The artwork is still bright and striking, but there is generalized wear throughout, with some soiling, and most of the cards have creases. With the proviso that this is a 100-year-old children’s game that appears to have seen considerable use, I think it is accurate to say that the cards are in good condition. They are very slightly wide, measuring 89mm x 60mm. The game appears to be complete with 9 pairs of cards, plus the “Old Maid” card. A thorough search online and in sources available to me has not disclosed the name of the maker, although as this listing is made there is another set of these cards for sale on online the seller of that set also does not know the maker or date of these cards. The only other double-ended set of “Old Maid” cards of which I am aware is a set made c.1920 by Milton Bradley (see, this shop, #T00007174), although perhaps there are others.
Apparently complete and very rare set of early “Old Maid” cards, noteworthy because they are double ended, with the images at the two ends identical.
