A suffragette card game used to help women fight for equality a century ago has been discovered in a cupboard during a routine house clearance.
The 114-year-old game, called ‘Panko or Votes for Women’, was found by Karl Martin, valuer at Hansons Auctioneers, when he was looking through old board games at a property in Castle Donington, Leicestershire. It’s now set for auction and could excel thanks to demand for historical objects relating to the suffragette movement.
Panko is named after Emmeline Pankhurst (1858-1928), a British political activist who organised the UK suffragette movement and helped women win the right to vote. The game was used as subtle propaganda to aid their cause. It pits opponents and supporters of the political movement against each other in a game similar to rummy.
Panko, first manufactured by Peter Gurney in 1909 in London, features illustrated cards designed by Edward Tennyson Reed, a political cartoonist known for his work in Punch magazine. The cards feature images of prominent figures in the suffrage movement as well as opponents.
Charles Hanson, owner of Hansons Auctioneers, said: “This game played a part in history. It reflects life and the development of women in society in the 20th century. It was used to help people learn about the suffrage movement at a time when women were being jailed and persecuted for campaigning for the right to vote.
“The game was distributed by the Women’s Social and Political Union and originally sold for two shillings. It was heart-warming to see the suffragettes’ unmistakable colours of purple and green used on the cards. One illustration shows an activist wearing a Votes for Women sash challenging a line of policemen armed with umbrellas. In contrast, anti-suffragettes cards portrayed the stern faces of men opposing the women’s cause.
“One particularly moving illustration depicts a prison warden offering a meal to a hunger striker, the placard above reads ‘Holloway Restaurant’. Emily Pankhurst famously staged a hunger strike while incarcerated in Holloway Prison. She is now regarded as one of the most influential people of the 20th century.
“This card game was a master stroke that allowed the suffragette message to enter domestic circles. I suspect the game may have been played as boys against girls to reflect the feelings of the time.
“The colours on the cards are fresh with only light wear. Clearly they are play-worn but in remarkable condition. They define an important period in British history and remind us of the bravery of a generation of women. It really is amazing what we find during house clearances and home visits.”
The Panko card game, estimate £300-£400, will be offered in Hansons Auctioneers’ August sales.
To find out more, or to enquire about valuations, house clearance or home visits, email [email protected] or call 01283 733988.
