US1545766A - Card game - Google Patents

Description

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CLARK EDWARD HARRISON, 0F ATLANTA, GEORGIA.

CARD GAME.

Application filed April 24, 1925.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLARK E. HARRlSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Atlanta, in the county of Fulton and State of Georgia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Card Game, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to card games.

The object of the invention is to provide a card game which is easy to learn, interesting and highly amusing, and yet which involves enough fine points to make the players attention, alertness and resourcefulness a large factor in his success.

Referring to the accompanying drawing for a particular description of the cards embodying the invention and of the method of playing the game, there is illustrated a series of sixteen cards. The first four cards of the series bear the letters S, T, A, R, the cards when arranged in the sequence illustrated spelling the Word Star. The fifth card of the series bears a hyphen. The next eight cards bear the letters S, IAH IJ7 E, S, M, A, N; mg when arranged in proper sequence the word Salesman. The first thirteen cards of the series, therefore, are adapted to spell the compound word Star-Salesman. The fourteenth card of the series bears the pic ture of a young man representative of the genus salesman. The fifteenth card depicts, or is designed to depict, an attractive young lady, representative of the modern vamp. The sixteenth card'bears the picture of a man in a circular frame with the five projecting points of a star indicating a star salesman. In addition to the letters and pictures each card bears anumeral to indicate its place in the sequence.

The game is ordinarily played with a single deck of 145 cards, consisting of four cards bearing pictures of young ladies, or Vamps, one card bearing the picture of a star salesman, and ten series, or sets, each composed of the first fourteen cards shown on the drawing.

From two to eight persons may play the game. After shufiling the cards thorough- 1y, 2. hand of five cards is dealt to each Serial No. 25,521.

player and then the remaining cards of the pack are disposed in groups of five and arranged criss-cross in a stack at the center of the table face down.

The first player at the left of the dealer may start the game by placing the first letter of the word Star-Salesman on the table face up and he may continue to play as long as he can play the cards in proper order to spell the Word Star-Salesman. When he can no longer play or if he does not have the first letter of the word he must lay one card down and call out the word pass signifying that he can no 'longer play. Then the next player to the left takes up the play if he has the proper card or cards and so on around.

The piles build up to fourteen cards by spelling the word Star-Salesman and by placing a picture of a salesman thereon after the completion of the word. The player who has completed a pile takes it off with a 15-point count, for example, unless one of his opponents should have in his possession a vamp, that is, a card bearing the icture of a young lady. If he has a vamp e can call out the word Vamped and place his vamp on top of the pile and take it with a 25-point count, for example, unless the player who finished the pile by placing the salesman on it should have in is possession a vamp also. If he has a vamp he presents it and. retains his pile with a 25-point count and the opponent withdraws his vamp and holds it for a future play. Should a player hold the star salesman he may call out the word Star-Salesman and present the card and take the pile with a 7 5-point count, for example. The star-salesman, however, can be used only in case the vamp has been played by an opponent. In case a player is vamped or the star-salesman is used to take his count he can neither make another play or reserve but must pass.

When a player can no longer play he lays down one card face up infront of him. The letter beginning the word Star-Salesman should be placed well to his left and the card bearing the picture of the salesman should be placed well to his right, then he should build in between these'cards with his other cards placing them in their con secutive order. All like cards should be placed in one pile giving a total number of fourteen piles in a players reserve.

It is a rule of the game that all cards bearing the capital S with the small figure 1 in the corner must be played first by placing them face up separately on the table. Should a player at any time during the game play another card out of his hand or ofi of his reserve before playing this card any of his opponents have the privilege of calling out the word sold. The first player observing the omission to play this capital S card may call out the word sold and thereby be given the right when his turn comes to play any card ofi the reserve of the player who has failed to play the capital S card.

Should a player have in his hand a picture of one of the girls or of the star-salesman he should make no intimation whatsoever of having such card but should conceal that fact by every means possible. This is his privilege and a very important point in the game. These are the only cards which the player has a right to conceal.

The object of the game of course is for the individual players or partners to reach the required number of points. The science of the game lies in carefully observing the board and the reserve of all players.

Now having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A deck of playing cards, comprising a plurality of sets, each set including a series of cards each card bearing a single letter of the alphabet, the letters being so chosen as to spell the name of an object when the cards are arranged in a certain sequence, each set alsoincluding a single card bearing a ,picture representing the genus of the object spelled, a single card bearin a picture of the specific object and a single card having an arbitrary designation.

2. A. deck of playing cards, comprising a plurality of sets, each set including a series of cards each card bearing a single letter of the alphabet, the letters being so chosen as to spell the word Star-Salesman when the cards are arranged in a certain sequence and each card also bearing a numeral to designate its place in said sequence, each set also including a single card bearing the picture of a salesman, a single card bearing the picture of a star salesman and a single card bearing the picture of a young lady.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

- CLARK EDWARD HARRISON.

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