For your consideration is the Educational Card Game, GAME OF BIRDS published in 1899 by the FIRESIDE GAME CO. (# 1127). The game is complete with all 52 cards: 13 sets of 4 cards each. The 5-page booklet describes the Rules for Playing. The cards measure 2-1/2 inches by 3-1/2 inches.
The images on the cards are from "BIRDS" copyrighted 1897-98 by the NATURE STUDY PUBLISHING COMPANY. This refers to Birds: A Monthly Serial, Illustrated by Color Photography, published in Chicago, Illinois, specifically to the first three volumes published during those years.
This deck was printed in 1899, as indicated by the code number "B43" on card A-1, the "Snowy Owl." The United States Playing Card Company, the parent company of Fireside, began using date codes on many of their decks beginning in 1898; the "B" on the card indicates that the deck was printed in 1899.
For about five decades I have been collecting the educational games produced by The Fireside Game Company of Cincinnati, Ohio their successor company, The Cincinnati Game Company, their parent company The United States Playing Card Company, and the re-issues of the games by Parker Brothers. I have amassed a near complete set of these games (including some of the rarest) and, over the coming weeks, will be selling the entire collection, starting with the earliest.
CONDITION: Complete with 52 cards, all of which are in good used condition, rubbed and soiled. There is an instruction booklet that is pasted down inside the box cover; it is in very good condition. lightly soiled. Both the box top and box bottom are heavily taped. The box cover is rubbed, soiled. and stained. One short apron and half of one long apron of the box cover are sun-bleached. PLEASE MOUSE OVER THE PHOTOGRAPHS FOR CONDITION DETAILS.