Chess and Playing-Cards. Catalogue of Games and implements for Divination Exhibited by the United States National Museum in connection with the Department of Archaeology and Paleontology of the University of Pennsylvania at the Cotton States

Robert Stewart Culin, 1858-1929) inscribed

Published by Government Printing Office, Washington DC, 1898

About this Item

665-942 pages with fifty plates, tables, figures, illustrations and maps. Royal octavo (9 3/4" x 6 1/4") bound in half leather with marbled boards. Original wrappers bound in. Inscribed by the author on the bound in front wrapper. Contained in the Annual Report of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution 1896, part 2. (Betts:5-5) First edition. The object of the collection on exhibition was to illustrate the probable origin, significance, and development of the games of chess and playing cards. Both games are regarded as being derived from the divinatory use of the arrow, and as representing the two main methods of arrow divination. The catalog gives illustrations and descriptions of a wide variety of ancient games. Chess and its variations are treated on pages 857-868; they a regarded as forming a stage in the development of divinatory games, a step forward from the various dice, knucklebones or staves games. Condition: Hinges and corners rubbed, pages slightly age darkened, inscribed "with the complements of the author" on the front wrapper which is bound in. About a very good copy. Seller Inventory # C0534

Bibliographic Details

Title: Chess and Playing-Cards. Catalogue of Games ...

Publisher: Government Printing Office, Washington DC

Publication Date: 1898

Binding: Hardcover

Condition: Very Good

Signed: Inscribed by Author(s)

Edition: 1st Edition