Physogs card game · 1940s

Physogs, the Novel Card Game (1940s) · original storage for the game

Physogs or having fun with a very sexist, misogynist and racist game; not surprising at all from a game based on a “science” like physiognomy.

Physogs, the Novel Card Game (1940s) · Face / frame card (1 of 4)

Physogs, a British game from the 1940s, is a popularized version of physiognomy, the art of judging human character from facial features. Based on sociologist Jacques Penry’s How to Judge Character from the Face (1939), the game consists of fifty-six printed cards and a key book describing thirteen distinct “facial-character types”: acquisitive-shrewd, dissipated, bad-tempered, determined, suave-obsequious, artistic-imaginative, credulous-impractical, magnetic, excitable-impetuous, self-conscious, crafty-self-centered, pleasant-cheerful, and narrow-minded-stubborn. There are four sets of playing cards: eye cards, nose cards, mouth cards, and type cards. (quoted from The Huntington Digital Library)

Physogs, the Novel Card Game (1940s)
Physogs, the Novel Card Game (1940s) · Key book
Physogs, the Novel Card Game (1940s) · Playing cards (eyes – nose – mouth) (6 of 52)
Physogs, the Novel Card Game (1940s) · Playing cards verso and reverse
Physogs, the Novel Card Game (1940s) · Playing cards (6 of 52)
Physogs, the Novel Card Game (1940s) · Rules / instructions
Physogs, the Novel Card Game (1940s) · Playing cards (6 of 52)
Physogs, the Novel Card Game (1940s) · Type cards (13)
Physogs, the Novel Card Game (1940s) · Frame card (2)
Physogs, the Novel Card Game (1940s) · Frame card (3)
Physogs, the Novel Card Game (1940s) · Frame card (4)

All cards and different compositions of ‘faces’ are available in high resolution at the Huntington Digital Library (link)