147 - GAMES. — Set of 6 volumes and pamphlets from the late 18th century.

GAMES. — Set of 6 volumes and pamphlets from the late 18th century. - STEIN (Elias). A New Treatise on the Game of Chess, with Military Reflections Relating to the Game. The Hague, Published at the Author’s Expense, 1789. In-8, paperback, contemporary cover. First edition, published by subscription in a run of 250 copies. (Gay, Bibliographie des échecs, p. 106.) - French checkerboard, suitable for playing chess and backgammon. Paris, Basset, n.d. [second half of the 18th century]. One engraved plate, approximately 46.5 x 59 cm, with crease marks, small paper losses along the edges, and slight marginal water damage. - Declaration by the King concerning prohibited games. Issued at Versailles, March 1, 1781. Colmar, Decker, 1781. In-4 booklet of 8 pp., unbound. - Decree of the Executive Directory concerning the manufacture of playing cards. Dated 21 Vendémiaire, Year VII of the French Republic. Saintes, De l’Imprimerie de Corinthe, Josserand and Hus, n.d. Folio-sized placard, folded in four, loose sheet. Contains a handwritten note from the period on the reverse. - New Playing Cards of the French Republic. [Paris], De l'Imprimerie des Nouvelles cartes de la République française, n.d. An 8vo booklet of 4 pages, stapled, with a modern cover. Patent filed by citizens Jaume and Dugourc to manufacture and distribute a new playing card design in which the old designations used under the Ancien Régime are replaced by new ones, in keeping with the ideals of the republican regime: thus the king of clubs becomes the “genius of clubs, or of peace,” the aces become “laws,” and the jacks become “equalities,” with the jack of diamonds depicting a “Negro freed from his chains, seated on a bale of coffee”. - *Le Jeu du Cressendo* (The Cressendo Game), or *Le Piémontois*; by M. de B***. Paris, Clousier, 1774. 12mo, thread-sewn leaves, untrimmed. First edition, adorned with a separate engraving, of this account of this card game, which Lhôte considers to be the ancestor of bridge (Lhôte, *Histoire des jeux de société*, pp. 451–452). Folding creases on the first page and the title page.