Rhymo Dominoes, A Novel Game for Girls & Boys, Pepys Series
First Published: circa 1951
Illustrator or Designer: Not Credited
Contents: 24 Regular Tiles + 2 Large Centre Tiles
Rhymo Dominoes Box Front
Rhymo Dominoes Box Back
Rhymo Dominoes Central Tiles: 1 - King, Rat, Tram, Nail. 2 - Cock, Strap, Pen, Log.
Rhymo Dominoes Tiles: Bail & Map, Bat & Slate, Blot & Dog, Can & Skate, Cap & Cot, Cat & Rock, Clock & Ham, Drum & Sock, Fan & Pot, Fog & Mat, Frog & Ring, Gate & Gum.
Rhymo Dominoes Tiles: Hat & Pram, Hen & Tail, Hog & Tram, Jam & Plum, Knot & Sail, Lock & Pan, Men & Shot, Plate & Ram, Snail & Spring, String & Tap, Sum & Van, Swing & Ten.
Rhymo Dominoes, Early Marbled Tile Back
Rhymo Dominoes Later Tile Back
Rhymo Dominoes is the only Pepys set that introduces a new element to the traditional game. Instead of matching numbers or pictures players match rhyming words, working out from two central four-sided tiles. Younger players can also match the coloured bars on each tile.
This inventive twist and the style of the illustrations suggests to me that Ern Shaw was involved in some way although he is not credited.
The first advert I have found that mentions the game dates to 1951. The coloured bars are also similar in style and palette to those used in the 1951 Woodland Happy Families and subsequent Racey Helps card games. Everything else about the game is consistent with a first publication of 1951.
Tobar reissued the game and it is still available to buy new, images to follow.
For more details of Pepys' range of eight domino games, see the Pepys Dominoes feature.