"London Post" Game by J Jaques 1880
This instructional game was made by J Jaques to educate the population about the new invention of post codes. The system was designed by Sir Rowland Hill and was first introduced in London in 1858, But it wasn't until well over a hundred years later that the system came into use across the whole nation.
To divide London, Hill took an area near St Paul's Cathedral and made it the centre of a circle with a radius of about 12 miles. He then divided London into ten separate postal districts: two central areas and eight compass points: EC, WC, N, NE, E, SE, S, SW, W, and NW. A local office was opened in each area for sorting the mail rather than taking everything to one central London location.
There were two editions of this game, the first, this set, was made in 1880 the second came in 1896 with the edition of Tower bridge which wasn't completed until that year. That second edition has a total of 64 cards, including several "Title" cards listing the buildings that can be found in the various post code areas. It also came in a box. At the time the second edition set cost one shilling. Originally this first edition may have had all the cards and the box the same as the second edition but I can't confirm that.
In fact, it is difficult to find much information about this first edition, at all. What I do know is it has 55 cards, all colour illustrations of famous London buildings or monuments and giving the correct area post code of the building. Other than a little foxing here and there the the cards are in excellent condition, with no bends or tears. All in all a very interesting and unusual deck.Postage Incl UK only.