Early Goodall & Son
The original Goodall courts first issued in 1820 were blue wood-block prints, stencil coloured in red, pink, yellow blue and black and similar to those used by Hunt & sons
which is not surprising as Charles Goodall started his apprenticeship with that firm. It wasn't until around 1850 when Charles Goodall, founder of the firm retired, that new style
courts started to appear some with more naturalistic design. Initially printed by woodblocks the printing process moved over to letterpress and the colours red, yellow black where used.
This set was one of the last single or standing court figures to be printed with ornate design and the use of several colours. Three of the Jacks also have beards which is unusual in the standard English design. Goodall and Son appears on the belt of the JC. C. 1855
reynolds & sons
Perforated Playing cards
In 1851 Reynolds & Sons patented a new design for playing cards to improve their handling. The cards had a wavy or 'perforated' edge to them and a decorated back with simple design and smooth surface for easy shuffling. The courts are clean looking with a more modern and detailed design, note the hands in particular, which are more life like. Perhaps these may have been produced for the Great Exhibition, but I have no proof of this as yet, never the less they appear to have been short lived and by the scarcity clearly were not a success.
Simple back design
A simple but effective design with gold 'holly' design in gold on a plain green background. Smooth finish for improved shuffling. Reynolds & Sons were the first playing card company to introduce coloured back designs. (See below for the Coronation deck for William & Adelaide)
Perforated edges
Perforated edges certainly improve handling and are very tactile but I imagine susceptible to easy damage during play and as such may make some cards easy to identify to the astute card sharp.