Showing posts with label russell. Show all posts
Showing posts with label russell. Show all posts

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Snow White Card Game by Russell

The Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Game was first produced in 1946 by Russell Mfg. Company. It was part of the six-deck Mickey Mouse Library of Games (of which we had a closer look at in an earlier Archive entry).




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Between the late 1940s-60s, the cards were repackaged and reissued many times. Here's a few of those later designs.

Snow is depicted on this box cover with Dopey on the sides. It's still labeled No. 6 (a reference to the Mickey Mouse Library of Games). Box measures approximately the same size as the earlier edition, 1.75" x 2.75" x 1".





Rules printed on back and bottom of box.




The card designs are the same as those seen in the first edition--four suits, 48 cards.
  • 1-7 = Dwarfs
  • 8 = Huntsman
  • 9 = Witch
  • 10 = Wicked Queen
  • 11 = Prince
  • 12 = Snow White



Dopey is stamped in red on the back of this deck.


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In another printing, probably from the 1950s, the box has the same graphics but a new design in green is printed on the card backs. The decks were sold individually or in various groupings. Here's a 3-pack labeled as Mickey Mouse Club Card Games for just 69¢.



A later release brings a moderately updated look to the box design. Seen here packaged individually for 39¢ or a 2-pack for only 59¢.


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In 1965, the deck was issued again with still another new box design. This time with the 1946 graphic of Snow and the dwarfs placed over a plain blue background. The deck also features larger cards than in earlier versions with a box measuring 2.375" x 3.5".





The opposite side artwork in blue.



The game was revamped in this version. Same rules, but instead of 48 cards, the deck only contains 40. No longer included are the Witch and Huntsman. The Queen, Prince, and Snow have been changed to the number 8, 9, and 10 cards.




The Snow White deck once again sold in a 2-pack with the Pigs.



Russell probably produced even more variations on this Snow White Game. We'll continue to post 'em if we find 'em.

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

1946 Mickey Mouse Library of Games Playing Cards

"Book Case" image via ryder.

This "Mickey Mouse Library of Games" was a set of six card games produced by Russell Mfg. Company in 1946-1948. The card boxes and case holder is made to look like a set of small books: Donald Duck (Vol. 1), Pinocchio (Vol. 2), Mickey Mouse (Vol. 3), Bambi (Vol. 4), The Three Little Pigs (Vol. 5), and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (Vol. 6).

The individual boxes are tiny, measuring approximately 2.75" x 1.75" x 1". Case length is 5.75". In each box of cards is a set of instructions on how to play the individual game. On the bottom of each instruction sheet is "1946 Russell Mfg. Co." Printed on the back of each box is "Made in U.S.A., Russell Mfg. Company, Leicester, Mass."



The set is seen here still in an original "bus" box.


Above three images copyright Heritage Auction Galleries.


The set is listed in a print ad from the September 1948 Playthings trade magazine.

Image via gdawg.

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The Snow White box...



Simulated page edging shown along side of box.



The deck consists of four suits, 48 playing cards.







The card backs on this deck feature Dopey printed in gray ink. Other sets have been found with red ink. The Rules: Earn points for consecutive cards in the same suit or the same numbered cards from different suits. Taking a trick deducts points. Player with the highest score at the end of the game wins.



Over the years, the same Snow White card game (or some variation of it) was reissued by Russell many times. This "duet" package features The Three Little Pigs game along with Snow, both in their first edition boxes.



See later editions of the game in another Archive entry.