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Writer's picturePeter Berthoud

Cinderella, A Card Game by Mullord Bros, 1876

Mullord Brothers' card game version of the fairytale Cinderella, illustrated by Charles Eade.

1. Cinderella, 2. The Cruel Stepmother, 3. The Mild Old Pa, 4. The Dreadful Sister.

1. Cinderella, 2. The Cruel Stepmother, 3. The Mild Old Pa, 4. The Dreadful Sister.

1. Cinderella, 2. The Cruel Stepmother, 3. The Mild Old Pa, 4. The Dreadful Sister.

5. The Other Dreadful Sister, 6. The Fairy Godma, 7. The Wonderful Melon, 8. The Mice.

9. The Coachman, 10. The Footmen, 11. The Hall Porter, 12. Silver Stick.

9. The Coachman, 10. The Footmen, 11. The Hall Porter, 12. Silver Stick.

13. Golden Stick, 14. Prince Charming, 15. King Jolliboy, 16. The Court Jester.

13. Golden Stick, 14. Prince Charming, 15. King Jolliboy, 16. The Court Jester.

17. The Leader of the Band, 18. First Violin, 19. Another Member of the Band, 20 One of the Guests.

17. The Leader of the Band, 18. First Violin, 19. Another Member of the Band, 20 One of the Guests.

21. Another Guest, 22. The Cook, 23. Jeames, 24 The Story Teller.

21. Another Guest, 22. The Cook, 23. Jeames, 24 The Story Teller.

25. The Herald, 26 Game- Cinderella.

25. The Herald, 26 Game - Cinderella.


The full text from the cards:


1. Cinderella

Cherry lips, sloe eyes, and form bewitching,

Nature’s Princess, draggedup in the kitchen.


2. The Cruel Stepmother

Who made poor “Cinder” all the day to scrub,

And pots, and pans, et cetera, to rub.


3. The Mild Old Pa

Who in the oft-recurring “Cinderella” rows,

Would side (for safety) with his gentle second spouse.


4. The Dreadful Sister

Who called poor “Cinder” ugly, snubbed and hit her,

But thought herself a very handsome critter.


5. The Other Dreadful Sister

The other sister, every bit as bad,

Would sneer and taunt her till she drove her mad.


6. The Fairy Godma

A sharp old girl, who knew a thing or so,

And said poor “Cinder” to the ball should go.


7. The Wonderful Melon

The Fairy waves her wand, and “Cinder’s rags,

Have changed to fine robes of silver and blue,

With tiny glass slipper from her wooden shoe;

A touch from the wand, and a ripe melon near,

Becomes a golden coach - “Jump in my dear.”


8. The Mice

Four mice, well known in Fairy Land for speed,

Each one becomes a dashing snow-white steed.


9. The Coachman

Behold the Fairy’s wand has changed a frog,

To “Gouty Coachy,” red-nosed, jolly dog.


10. The Footmen

Her magic wand transforms two grey old rats

Into smart footmen, with gayest calves and hats.


11. The Hall Porter

Cinderella arrives! and the grim-looking porter

Mistakes her at least for an emperor’s daughter.


12. Silver Stick

The lively usher who leads the way,

To the glorious throng of dancers gay.


13. Golden Stick

The stuck-up M.C. - necessary evil -

I believe that some folks wished him to the devil.


14. Prince Charming

A slightly dandified but generous “feller”

Who fell in love with pretty Cinderella.


15. King Jolliboy

A generous monarch of the olden time;

His heirs now reign at every pantomime.


16. The Court Jester

His entrance brought a hurricane of laughter;

His jokes were to be thought of long years after.


17. The Leader of the Band

And now the band strikes up, that is the leader,

Into a sea of notes takes a sensation “header.”


18. First Violin

What lovely strains! who would not be a cat

And die to help produce such notes as that?


19. Another Member of the Band

How hard he works on C and G and E,

A lifetime played on them would not suit me.


20 One of the Guests

Achmet Haroun Alraschid Tater Khan,

A mormonizing bluebeard sort of man


21. Another Guest

While good wine in the cup shall be,

Where a more constant friend than he?


22. The Cook

This is indeed a royal cook, his art it never fails,

From jugging hares and elephants,

To grilling sharks and whales.


23. Jeames

How clumsy! horrid fellow! here’s two dreadful messes,

You’ve spoilt both Cinderella’s susters’ dresses.


24 The Story Teller

The feast being over this old man can tell,

What to poor Cinderella then befel,

The clock struck TWELVE! now dressed in rags, she flew,

But, artful puss, she left behind a shoe.


25. The Herald

Oyez! Oyez! where is the lovely cratur

That owns this shoe? roya bridal robes await her.


26 Game - Cinderella

The shoe fits, she takes Prince Charming’s name,

They both live heavily after. - GAME


Eight of the cards also bear rewards and and forfeits, e.g. "Take 2 from Pool" or "Put 3 in Pool".



The fairytale of Cinderella has ancient origins and dozens of variants. The Wikipedia article contains a lot of useful information and links. The uncommonly named character of King Jolliboy in the Mullord game suggests one version which might have served as a reference or partial inspiration: King Jollyboy's Royal Story Book for Little Folks by Shirley Brooks was published in 1858.


Notes:

Cinderella, Card Game by Mullord Brothers - 26 square-cut, plain pink backed cards. No copy of the rules nor a surviving example of the original box or wrap has been found.


Mullord Brothers produced numerous games and a variety of stationery and decorative paper products at their "Bijou Works, Penn Street, Hoxton, London N." The Mullord games of Cinderella and Apple Pie were documented for the first time on this website.


"The Hall Porter", the image used for card 11, was also used in the Mullord game Dick Whittington, both games were illustrated by Charles Eade.


The game was first advertised for sale in 1876.

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