Story: Cards, board games and puzzles

Miners playing forty-fives, 1944

Miners playing forty-fives, 1944

These miners at the West Coast coal-mining settlement of Millerton are playing the card game forty-fives in 1944. This game has been played in Ireland for centuries and, later, in Irish migrant communities around the world. Its name may derive from 'forte' or 'strong' fives, since the five of the trump suit beats any other card.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, John Dobrée Pascoe Collection (PAColl-0783)
Reference: 1/4-001246-F
Photograph by John Dobrée Pascoe

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Mark Derby, 'Cards, board games and puzzles - Gambling games', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/38909/miners-playing-forty-fives-1944 (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Mark Derby, published 5 Sep 2013