The Compleat Gamester, In Three Parts, Viz I Full and Easy..

1734. London, 1734. 5th ed.. London, 1734. 5th ed. A Book on Games "Written For the Use of the Young Princesses" Seymour, Richard, Editor. The Compleat Gamester: In Three Parts. Viz. I. Full and Easy Instructions for Playing the Games Chiefly Used at Court and in the Assemblees, Viz. Ombre, Quadrille, Quintille, Picquet, Basset, Faro, and the Royal Game of Chess. II. The True Manner of Playing the Most Usual Games at Cards, Viz. Whist, All-Fours, Cribbidge, Put, Lue, Brag, &c. With Several Diverting Tricks Upon the Cards. III. Rules for Playing at All the Games both Within and Without the Tables; Likewise at English and French Billiards. Also the Laws of Each Game Annexed to Prevent Disputes. Written for the Use of the Young Princesses. London: Printed for E. Curll in Rose-Street Covent-Garden; And J. Wilford, Behind the Chapter-House in St. Paul's Church-Yard, 1734. viii, [4], 132; 94, [2] pp. Four parts. Parts 2-4 paginated separately. Copperplate pictorial frontispiece. Publisher advertisement on verso of final leaf. 12mo. (6-1/2" x 3-3/4"). Contemporary sheep, gilt rules to boards, raised bands to spine. Moderate rubbing with some wear to spine ends and corners, boards beginning to separate but secure, bookplate residue to front pastedown, endleaves removed. Moderate toning, light soiling to title page and a few other leaves, a few creases, light soiling and tiny hole to frontispiece, a short tear along the gutter. Book housed in an attractive cloth clamshell case, gilt title to spine. $1,000. * Fifth edition. The Compleat Gamester is one of the earliest rulebooks written in English. First published in 1674, with several editions and issues through 1750, it was the standard book until it was surpassed in the 1750s by Edmond Hoyle's Treatises of Whist, Quadrille, Piquet, Chess and Back-Gammon (1748), known in later editions as Hoyle's Rules or Hoyle's Games. Published anonymously, The Compleat Gamester is often attributed to Charles Cotton [1630-1687], the poet and writer who is remembered today for his contributions to The Compleat Angler and translations of Montaigne. English Short-Title Catalogue T116608.