The Personalities and Books which shaped the game of Whist, 1860-1900
All the books described here are from Tony Hall's own collection, put together over years because of his fascination with how Whist evolved into Contract Bridge.
By Tony Hall
Member since January 30, 2015
I started my interest in card games about 70 years ago, playing cribbage with my grandfather. Collecting card game materials started 50 years or so later, when time permitted. One cribbage board was a memory; two became the start of a collection currently exceeding 150!
Once interest in the social history of card games was sparked, I bought a wooden whist marker from the 1880s which was ingenious in design and unbelievably tactile. One lead to two and there was no stopping.
What happened thereafter is reflected in my articles and downloads on this site, for which I will be eternally grateful.
Leave a Reply
Your Name
Just nowRelated Articles
Agatha Christie and card games
Agatha Christie uses card-play as a primary focus of a story, and as a way of creating plots and mot...
Lo Cartescacco / Chess playing cards
Playing cards designed by F. Romagnoli bringing together Chess and Bridge, Italy, c. 1981.
Bourbon Bridge
Attractive, woodcut-style courts adapted for modern play.
T. Drayton & Son
Bezique and Whist boxed sets by T. Drayton & Son, London, c.1875.
The making of a Bridge or Bézique marker
This post-mortem was carried out on a Bezique marker which was already falling apart.
Card Game Items and contemporary advertisements
It is often difficult to identify the origin, manufacturer and date of a card game boxed set and oth...
De La Rue Pocket Guides
The 19th Century saw the production, by all of the major companies, of pocket guides or “mini-books”...
Will’s Cigarettes and Auction Bridge
In 1926 Will’s issued a set of 25 cigarette cards on Auction Bridge, presenting a range of hands ill...
A New Look at the Evolution of Whist Markers and Gaming Counters
This article aims to illustrate the evolution of whist and gaming counters from the 18th century to ...
Whist writers and pseudonyms
Why did so many early writers about whist and other card games feel the need to write under a pseudo...
Whist marker boxes
The Camden Whist marker was being advertised by Goodall and son in 1872 as a new product.
Bridge Markers and bridge scoring methods
Bridge Markers and bridge scoring methods 1900-1930
Foster’s Self-Playing Whist Cards
In 1890 R. F. Foster published the first edition of “Foster’s Whist Manual” which was to become the ...
What can we learn from mini-booklet advertisements?
Over the years I have collected a large number of mini-booklets and pocket guides offering rules and...
Sextet: 6 handed bridge
6 handed bridge playing cards designed by Ralph E. Peterson, 1966.
The Place of the Fool
This paper considers three questions relating to the Fool-card in the tarot-pack.
Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here.