GAMES

[Card games: 'Whist for two' and 'the game of Mrs. Allport'.] Autograph instructions by 'Miss Stanton' on 'How to play the game of Mrs. Allport' and 'Whist for two'.

Author: 
[Card games; pastimes; Miss Stanton; Mrs Allport; whist; Chelsea, London]
Publication details: 
No date (1920s?). On letterhead of 72 Elm Park Mansions, Park Walk, Chelsea, London, S.W.
£120.00

9pp, 12mo. On twi bifoliums and a single leaf, only the first of the bifoliums carrying the letterhead. In good condition, on aged paper. Folded once and in an envelope with 'Whist for 2. | Rules by Miss Stanton.' on cover. The letterhead has the feel of the 1920s, but the handwriting is Victorian, and presumably that of an old spinster. The first bifolium carries a separate set of instructions over four pages, headed 'Whist for two', and concluding: 'Hope you can read it excuse blots for I cant see what I have written'.

[Peter Opie, folklorist, with wife Iona Opie, of children's games and nursery rhymes.] Two Typed Letters Signed to W. J. MacQueen-Pope, on the music hall, John Dunn and 'Jump Jim Crow', the Great Macdermott and 'Jeremiah, blow the fire'.

Author: 
Peter Opie (1918-1982), folklorist who, with his wife Iona Opie (1923-2017), worked on children's games and literature, donating their collection to the Bodleian [W. J. MacQueen-Pope (1888-1960)]
Publication details: 
Opie's two letters on letterhead of 'IONA OPIE | PETER OPIE', Rockbourne House, 100 High Street, Alton, Hampshire. 20 and 25 January 1951. With carbon copy of a reply from MacQueen-Pope, 23 January 1951.
£150.00

The three items (two letters from Peter Opie to MacQueen-Pope and carbon copy of his reply to the first of these) are in fair condition, on aged and lightly-creased paper, with a slight nick at the head of the first letter. Inspired by the recent publication of MP's 'The Melody Lingers On: The Story of Music Hall' (1950), Opie writes to MP via his publishers W. H. Allen & Co, and signs both letters 'Peter Opie.' MP writes to Opie at Rockbourne House. ONE: TLS from Opie to MP. 20 January 1951. 1p, 4to.

[De La Rue Company Limited, manufacturers of playing cards and currency.] Typed Letter Signed from company chairman Bernard C. Westall to Viscount Portal, presenting a copy of the company history.

Author: 
Bernard C. Westall [Bernard Clement Westall] (1893-1970), President of the De La Rue Company, manufacturers of playing cards [Charles Portal, 1st Viscount Portal, Marshal of the Royal Air Force]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of The De La Rue Company Limited, De La Rue House, 84/86 Regents Street, London W.1. 19 July 1963.
£45.00

1p., 4to. In fair condition, lightly aged and creased. Salutation ('Dear Lord Portal') and valediction ('I hope you are well. | Kindest regards | Yours sincerely | Bernard C. Westall') in autograph, the rest typed. Addressed to 'Marshal of the Royal Air Force, | the Rt. Hon.

[ Eustace Miles, Olympic real tennis player, proposes a book on 'How to Breathe' to the publisher Grant Richards. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('Eustace Miles.') to Richards, also regarding 'the Roman History Reviews'.

Author: 
Eustace Miles [ Eustace Hamilton Miles ] (1868-1948), English real tennis player who competed in the 1908 Summer Olympics [ Grant Richards [ Franklin Thomas Grant Richards ] (1872-1948), publisher ]
Publication details: 
89 Norfolk Road, Littlehampton. 15 October 1901.
£50.00

Miles published two books with Richards: 'The Teaching of Jesus To-Day' (1899) and 'A History of Rome to 500 a.d.' (1901), the latter having appeared shortly before the writing of the letter. The work proposed by Miles in this letter does not appear to have been published by Richard or anyone else. 2pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged. The letter begins: 'Dear Richards, | Would you be likely to publish a Vol. on | “How to Breathe” | in your “How-to” Series? There wd. Be plain-line illustrations. The Indian Yoga System wd.

[ Neville Bulwer-Lytton, 3rd Earl of Lytton, British military officer, Olympian and artist. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('Neville Lytton') to Digby la Motte, describing the 'magnificent' appearance at a Bach concert of Sir Claude Phillips.

Author: 
Neville Bulwer-Lytton (1879-1951), 3rd Earl of Lytton, British military officer, Olympian (Real Tennis) and artist [ Sir Claude Phillips; Richard Alexander Streatfeild ]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of Crabbet Park, Poundhill, Crawley, Sussex. 18 March 1911.
£65.00

1p., 12mo. In fair condition, on aged and worn paper. He apologises for being unable to 'get out of' his 'other engagement' after his committee the following next Wednesday, and asks for 'another opportunity of coming to see you.' He continues: 'I saw Streatfield [sic] from afar the other night at Bach's mass in B. Minor. He was magnificent in evening dress next to Claude Phillips even more magnificent.' He concludes: 'I expect you Wednesday afternoon at Rossetti Studios, Flood St.

[ The Game of Minims, invented by Edmond X. Kapp. ] Galley proof or offprint in which Kapp gives the eight rules of the game, under an explanatory introduction and the title 'Rules for the Game of Minims reprinted from "The Weekly Westminster."'

Author: 
Edmond X. Kapp [ Edmond Xavier Kapp (1890-1978), portrait painter and caricaturist, inventor of the Game of Minims [ The Weekly Westminster, London periodical; Faber & Gwyer, publishers ]
Publication details: 
Unattributed and undated. [ The Weekly Westminster, London? 1925 or 1926. ]
£50.00

Galley proof or off print of a single column. In fair condition, heavily aged and on brittle high-acidity newspaper stock. Headed: 'Rules for the Game of | Minims | reprinted from | "The Weekly Westminster." | The announcement in The Weekly Westminster Competitions of a prize for a new parlour game, suggested to Mr. Kapp that there was a game to be made out of Minims, a little book published by Faber and Gwyer a few weeks earlier. Mr. Kapp entered the competition and carried off first prize.

[ 'The Dirigible Balloon' game. ] Printed instructions, in French, for 'un nouveau jeu instructif' titled 'Le Ballon Dirigeable', with reference to 'le comte Zeppelin', 'Santos Dumont', the 'Freres Wright' and the 'major de Parseval'.

Author: 
'Le Ballon Dirigeable', French game [ Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin; Alberto Santos-Dumont; Wright brothers; August von Parseval]
Publication details: 
French. Unattributed and undated (pre-First World War?).
£50.00

1p., 8vo. On cheap paper stock. Aged, and with chipping and closed tears to extremities. Stamped on the reverse by the Paris bookseller C. F. Labarre (fl. 1970). Printed in the bottom left-hand corner: 'No. 6012.' 37 lines of text.

[ Simpkin, Marshall, Hamilton, Kent & Co., Ltd., London publishers. ] Illustrated booksellers' 'order form': 'A New Series of Children's Toy Books'.

Author: 
Simpkin, Marshall, Hamilton, Kent & Co., Ltd., 4, Stationers Hall Court, London, EC4 [ catalogue of 'Children's Toy Books' ]
Publication details: 
Simpkin, Marshall, Hamilton, Kent & Co., Ltd., 4, Stationers Hall Court, London, E.C.4. [1919, for 1920.]
£65.00

8pp., 4to. Illustrations of covers on every page. Stapled. In good condition, on aged paper, with rusted staples. The cover (with a central photograph depicting the covers of eight titles) is headed: 'Order Form. | A New Series of Children's Toy Books. | The Publishers offer in this new series one of the most striking and original Coloured Toy Books ever published. They will please little children. | These Toy Books will command an immediate sale in any part of the country. They are not expensive.' In right-hand margin of cover: 'A Selection of 49 Titles'.

[ 1968 Tokyo Olympic Games. ] Autograph 'Olympic Diary' of Brigadier James Grose, equestrian team manager, covering the period leading up to the opening ceremony; with accounts. With 'situation report for Col Ansell', telegrams, receipts.

Author: 
Brigadier James Grose, Director of the Burghley Horse Trials and British equestrian team manager at 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games [ Col. Sir Michael Picton Ansell (1905-1994) ]
Publication details: 
'British Equestrian Team | Yo-yogi Village' [Tokyo, Japan]. 23 September to 14 October 1964.
£450.00

38pp., 8vo. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn. In 'Note Book Made of paper Specially prepared in Japan'. On front cover: 'J. GROSE | British Equestrian Team | Yo-yogi Village | Olympic Diary'. Begins on 23 September with flight from London Airport via Bombay. In Hong Kong he dines with 'Algie (Lady O'Connor)' at Flagstaff House. In the Olympic Village at Yoyogi on 26 September he discusses problems 'in our hut (448)', before inspecting 'the Equestrian Centre (Baji-Koen)'.

[Catalogue by Elkin Mathews Limited.] List 71. A Small Collection of Children's Toys and Games.

Author: 
[Percy Muir [Percy H. Muir; Percy Horace Muir] (1894-1979), bookseller, proprietor of Elkin Mathews Limited, Takeley, Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire]
Publication details: 
Elkin Mathews Limited, Takeley, Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire, England. [1960s?]
£135.00

[2] + 8pp., 8vo., with an additional 6pp of illustrations. Aged and creased, with rusted staples. Typeset with something akin to an IBM golfball. Introductory note: 'This small collection of children's toys and games was formed in the early years of this century and had remained undisturbed in a packing case until purchased by us some months ago. Some of the toys show signs of use but in general the condition is very good. Adequate description is difficult and we have endeavoured to illustrate as many of the toys as possible.

[Dover Easter Manoeuvres, 1892.] Printed orders for the Volunteer Tactical Field Day at Dover, Easter Monday, 1892.' With printed map.

Author: 
Dover Easter Volunteer Manoeuvres, 1892, under Major-General Lord William Seymour, South-Eastern Division; Colonel J. C. Russell; Colonel J. B. Stirling; Colonel H. Kingscote
Publication details: 
[No place [Dover, England]. [18 April] 1892.]
£250.00

Both orders and map are in good condition, on lightly aged and worn paper. ORDERS: Headed 'Volunteer Tactical Field Day at Dover, | Easter Monday, 1892.' 8pp., 8vo. Stitched. The first two pages list: Headquarter Staff; Umpire Staff (Umpire-in-Chief, The General Officer Commanding South Eastern Division); Attacking Force (Commanding - Colonel J. C. Russell); Defending Force (Commanding - Colonel J. B. Sterling); Railway Staff Officers. The third and fourth pages carry tables for the Attacking and Defending Forces. Pages 5-8 give the 'District Orders' by 'H.

[Printed item.] Evening Pastimes; or, Amusements for Hearths and Homes: A Magazine of Fun and Frolic; Containing Parlour Games and Forfeits, Riddles, Enigmas, Charades, Conundrums, Practical Puzzles, and Paradoxes, [...]

Author: 
[Victorian Scottish puzzle book; parlour games; charades; riddles, pastimes; Cameron & Co., publishers, Glasgow, Scotland]
Publication details: 
Glasgow: Cameron & Co., Publishers, and sold by all booksellers. [1880s?]
£280.00

128pp., 12mo. In original wraps, with 11.5 x 7 cm label pasted on cover with coloured illustration of a man performing a magic trick for a group of ladies, beneath the title 'EVENING PASTIMES | OR AMUSEMENTS FOR | HEARTHS AND HOMES'. In fair condition, a tight copy on aged paper, in worn wraps. Ownership stamp of the Sussex ornithologist H. L. F. Guermonprez on front free endpaper.

Printed 'Information & News Sheet published by British Prisoners of War Funds [...] No. 21 - Far East'.

Author: 
[Miss Christine Knowles, Founder and Hon. Director, British Prisoners of War Books & Games Fund and Forge-Me-Not League]
Publication details: 
Carrington House, Hertford Street, London, W1. [1944.]
£150.00

27pp., 12mo. Unbound. In fair condition, on lightly-aged paper. Articles include: Parliamentary News (November 1944); Far East Conditions; Food and Medical Supplies; Minister of Cabinet Rank; Government Inter-Departmental Committee; Telegrams; Radio Message Scheme; Sunk Japanese Transports; List of Names of Prisoners of War and Civilian Internees; Inspection of Prisoners of War Camps; Pay; Leave; Mail.

Manuscript 'Secretary's Books' of the 'St. Andrews Colleges Chess Club', with signed annual reports by various Club Secretaries and signatures of Club Presidents. [University of St Andrews].

Publication details: 
Dating from between 26 February 1957 and 7 March 1966.
£120.00

165pp., 4to. In a single (despite plural 'Books' in title) ruled notebook.Title on the front pastedown: 'ST. ANDREWS COLLEGES CHESS CLUB | SECRETARY'S BOOKS.' The first of the Secretaries' annual reports, 'Given at the A. G. M. on February 26th. 1957' by Robert J. V. Logan states that at the time it is 'just over three months since the Club came into re-existence [...] The Club has been meeting on Tuesday evenings in Joe's Café, where members have been playing each other.' Signatures of Grant Waller, John Smail, Michael A. Brewer, Duncan Pirie, R. H. Billington, Harry Cleghorn, W. J. P.

French nineteenth-century handbill poem by 'L. N.' on the game of whist, titled 'Le Whist.'

Author: 
'L. N.' [French nineteenth-century handbill poem on the game of whist]
Handbill poem by 'L. N.' on the game of whist
Publication details: 
Date of publication and name of printer not stated [1840s Paris?].
£350.00
Handbill poem by 'L. N.' on the game of whist

2 pp, 12mo. On the first leaf of a bifolium of wove paper. Fair, on lightly-aged paper. Signed 'L. N.' in type at end. A 114-line poem, in rhyming alexandrine couplets, beginning 'Messieurs, au jeu du whist adoptez constamment | L'air grave britannique et le flegme allemand.

Anonymous French nineteenth-century handbill poem, containing precepts on the game of chess, entitled 'Le Jeu d'Échecs.'

Author: 
'Le Jeu d'Échecs' [anonymous French nineteenth-century handbill poem on the game of chess]
Handbill poem, containing precepts on the game of chess
Publication details: 
Date of publication and name of printer not stated [1840s Paris?].
£650.00
Handbill poem, containing precepts on the game of chess

4 pp, 16mo. Paginated [1] to 4. On a bifolium of wove paper. Fair, on lightly-aged and creased paper, with thin strip of previous mount adhering to inner margin of first page.

The History of Playing Cards and Card-Conjuring. Les Cartes a Jouer et la Cartomancie par P. Boiteau D'Ambly. (Illustrated with forty curious woodcuts.)

Author: 
P. Boiteau D'Ambly [John Camden Hotten]
Publication details: 
London: John Camden Hotten, Antiquarian Bookseller, Piccadilly. 1859.
£125.00

12mo: [ii] + ii + 390 pp. In contemporary quarter-binding with burgundy leather spine ('CARTES A JOUER' in gilt) and red paper boards. Top edge gilt. Binder's ticket of Bone & Son, Fleet Street. Tight copy, on aged and spotted paper, in worn binding with damage and loss to spine. In French, with Boiteau's preface dated 'Juin 1854'. Evidently the sheets of the French edition, with Hotten's new title-leaf. An interesting and informative work, with attractive engravings in text by Coppin. Scarce: the only copies on COPAC at the British Library and the National Library of Wales.

Engraving by Reynolds of Birmingham.

Author: 
James Bisset [ nineteenth-century illustrated list of Birmingham toy makers ]
Publication details: 
No date [1800?]; 'Publish'd, by J. Bisset, Museum Birmm. for his Magnificent Directory.'
£85.00

According to the British Library Bisset's Directory was published in 1800. Paper dimensions roughly 5 1/4 inches by 9 inches; print dimensions roughly 4 1/4 inches by 7 inches. In very good condition although somewhat grubby. Paper watermarked '<179?>9 | TMAN'. At head of plate: 'M'. At foot of plate: 'Reynolds. Sct. Birm'.

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