[WOMEN’S SUFFRAGE]; Reed, T.E. [Illus.] ~ Panko or Votes for Women : The Great Card Game – Suffragists v. Anti-Suffragists : Pictures by E. T. Reed of Punch

Peter Gurney, Ltd.,London : c.1909

Published by Peter Gurney, Ltd.,London circa 1909. A complete set of the most popular suffragette card game. "The translation of the mechanics of the women's suffrage campaign into board and card games was a masterstroke. Not only were funds raised, but the message of the cause was brought into domestic circles where more rabid propaganda might not have been welcomed” (Crawford, p. 235). The pack of 48 cards is split into two halves, Suffragist and Anti-Suffragist, both illustrated by the Punch cartoonist Edward Tennyson Reed. The illustrations for the Suffragist suits, coloured in their signature purple and green, include suffragettes bearing the Votes for Women scroll and sash challenging a line of policemen. The illustrations for the Anti-Suffragist suits portray a series of men standing in opposition to the women's cause; one pointed sketch depicts a prison warden offering a meal to a hunger striker, the placard above reading "Holloway Restaurant", with the caption "Faim de siècle". The game, which was distributed by the WSPU, was advertised in Votes for Women in December 1909; the suffragette Mary Blathwayt gave a set of Panko to her mother for Christmas that year. Two variants have been identified. One, as here and the commoner to be found, features a purple curlicue design on the card versos and the rectos with numbers at opposite corners. The instructions sheet that typically accompanies these is headed "PANKO. Suffragists v. Anti-Suffragists", with ten rules and an extended breakdown of the points system (In the variant, the versos are decorated with a blue geometric design and the rectos are without the numbering. The instructions often seen with these is headed "PANKO or 'Votes for Women'", with twelve rules, and no breakdown of the points system. It is possible that this variant is an earlier iteration of the game, circulated before the points system was clarified, but no priority has been established). (Elizabeth Crawford, The Women's Suffrage Movement: A Reference Guide 1866-1928, 1999). Together 48 illustrated playing cards printed in colour, versos with purple curlicue block design and rectos with cartoons bordered with suit numbers and captions. With a facsimile of the printed instructions sheet as the original instruction sheet is missing as sadly often encountered. Housed in the original publisher’s card box as issued. The latter is a little soiled, a few areas of light loss and splitting to side panels with minimal profession repairs ; the cards bright with a little age related light markings in places. A very good++ or better set and increasingly scarce as such being a complete set housed within the the original box which is in collectible condition.

BINDING: Cards
CONDITION: Very Good++
Box : Very Good+