A unique deck of pneumatic playing cards produced by De La Rue with the 'North Irish Horse' military regiment cap badge to the backs from the 1920s.
The North Irish Horse (NIH) was formed in 1900 for the Boer War and in 1908 it was allocated to the Special Reserve as there were no Territorial units for Irish regiments. It served on the Western front in the Great War, was disbanded in July 1922.
The reason for these cards being produced was Captain Sir Evelyn Andros De La Rue, spent a very brief period of his military career with the 2nd North Irish Horse before the officers from this unit were absorbed into the 9th Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers in 1917 and he returned as chairman for the card manufacturer in 1919.
Pneumatic playing cards were invented by William Thomas Shaw, an old employee and De la Rue friend who had recently become a partner in the company. The surface of the cards was slightly grooved by being rolled on prepared plates, so that there were little pockets of air between each card, which prevented them sticking together. The invention came at about the same time as round corners and indices, i.e. c.1890. By impressing a herringbone design into the back of the card air was trapped to prevent sticking and cards slid easily during dealing
A brilliant piece of history for Both De La Rue and military collectors alike. The drop lid box sadly has pen marks to the side (see pictures) but otherwise the cards are complete and in very good condition, no jokers. Grade 2 under the Hoyles Vintage Grading System.
