For your consideration is the Educational Card Game, GAME OF FLAGS, copyrighted in 1896 by the FIRESIDE GAME CO. (# 1111) and published in 1910 by the CINCINNATI GAME COMPANY.  It is complete with 53 cards depicting flags of the world  (4 cards each in 13 suits, A-M), the Crown Card and a Directions for Play card that is pasted down inside the box cover. Also included is an advertising card for "Educational Games."  The cards measure 2-1/2 inches by 3-1/2 inches.  

Beginning in 1898, the United States Playing Card Company (the parent company of both the Fireside Game Company and the Cincinnati Game Company) began using date codes on many of their decks.  The code "N484Z" on the A-1 United States of America card indicates that this deck was printed in 1910.  

The identical flags for the countries of Turkey (I-3), Tripoli (K-3) and Egypt (K-4) are not in error. In the years just before the First World War, the countries. were all parts of the Ottoman Empire and used flags derived from the Ottoman red crescent-and-star design.

There is a  label on the box bottom from the G.A. Schwarz of Philadelphia.  The Chestnut Street location was known as the "Toy and Fancy Emporium" or "Toy Bazaar." Gustavus Adolphus Schwarz was one of four Schwarz brothers who emigrated from Germany and established toy businesses in major American cities. Gustavus opened his Philadelphia store in 1859 at 1006 Chestnut Street, while his brothers operated similar stores in Baltimore, New York (F.A.O. Schwarz), and Boston.

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.  All cards are in excellent condition with few signs of wear.  The original box top and box bottom are intact with no signs of repair.  The box cover Is v very lightly soiled with a small amount of wear at the corners.   PLEASE MOUSE OVER THE PHOTOGRAPHS FOR CONDITION DETAILS.