2018: The Year in Collecting (addendum)

The ink wasn't even dry on my essay "2018: The Year in Collecting" when an extraordinary item turned up on eBay of all places. The book is the first American book on card games, or more accurately, one of three "firsts," all published at the same time. It is a 1796 reprint Hoyle's Games Improved by James Beaufort. It was originally printed in London in 1775 and again in London in 1788.

1796 Beaufort Hoyle, Philadelphia

Three issues of the book appeared in America in 1796, one with a Boston imprint, another New York, and this one, Philadelphia and Baltimore. When I wrote about these books in the essay "More Hoyle Collectibles," I expected the latter two books to have cancel titles. Having seen more copies, I now see that titles are not cancels, but are all the same setting of type except for the imprint. They were all printed in Boston, but distributed by booksellers in multiples cities.

1796 Beaufort Hoyle, Boston

Perhaps you can compare the type with the Boston issue, pictured at right.








The binding, pictured below, is contemporary and in remarkably good condition other than a slight loss in the red label.

1796 Beaufort Hoyle, Philadelphia

Now I have two of three issues. Does anyone know where I can pick up the one sold in New York?