A.W. Gamage Sports Outfitters Playing Cards Set and Checklist

Posted on November 1, 2016 by Pre-War Cards

‘It’s In The Details’

Title	A.W. Gamage Sports Outfitters Playing Cards
Year	1900s
Size	2 1/2″ x 3 1/2″
Images	Color
Type	Tobacco
Number in Set	52

A.W. Gamage Sports Outfitters Playing Cards Overview

AW Gamage Sports Outfitters Playing Card Red These playing cards were the work of a sporting goods company, A.W. Gamage, Ltd. The company operated in Holborn, England. A.W. Gamage, the proprietor, is seen here and he is said to have started his business in 1878. As mentioned here, the store operated until 1972.

The cards were a standard deck of playing cards. Rounded corners have helped many of them to remain in good condition. An exact date of production for these cards is not known but they are believed to be from around the early 1900s. Cards were printed in both blue ink and red ink. Both of the card types have the same pictures, just with different ink. Currently, it is not known which (if either) is significantly rarer.

Of note is that the backs of the cards feature generic athletes participating in a variety of sports. The sports depicted on the cards include:

Golf
Tennis
Soccer
Field Hockey
Cricket
Hunting
Cycling
Fishing

These weren’t the only sorts issues from A.W. Gamage. In addition to other playing cards, they also distributed a set of sports postcards.

A.W. Gamage Sports Outfitters Playing Cards Checklist

The checklist for the set is merely a standard deck of playing cards, numbered Ace through King with cards in all four suits, clubs, diamonds, hearts, and spades. Each card has this same sports scene on the back.