176 - [GAMES - LA MARINIÈRE]. The House of Academic Games, containing a General Collection of all entertaining games for enjoyment and pleasant pastimes.

[GAMES - LA MARINIÈRE]. The House of Academic Games, containing a General Collection of all entertaining games for enjoyment and pleasant pastimes. A new, expanded edition of this rare encyclopedia of games from the reign of Louis XIV, in a beautiful contemporary binding bearing the coat of arms of the Chassebras family. Paris, Estienne Loyson, 1668. In-12, full brown marbled sheepskin, spine with decorated raised bands, gold-stamped fleurs-de-lis and corner fleurons between the bands, title in gold lettering, covers stamped with the Chassebras family coat of arms, ornate cap and edge bands, red speckled edges (contemporary binding). 6 unnumbered folios and 300 pages, 1 engraved frontispiece, title medallion, headpieces, initials, and tailpieces. Binding rubbed, central panel reinforced with adhesive tape, extensive water damage (more pronounced on the first few leaves), small wormholes on the inner margins of the first 86 pages. A new edition, expanded to include various games (including that of the Lotterie Plaisante) compared to the original from 1654. Published in the middle of Louis XIV’s reign, this work by La Marinière was at the time “the very first printed book to bring together a variety of games” (BnF). It details the rules and tactical subtleties of numerous court, salon, and tavern games that were popular in the 17th century and have since become iconic: card games (Le Piquet, le Hoc, Tarot, la Triomphe, Romestecq, Imperiale, Reversis, La Ferme, Le Flux, etc.), board and strategy games (Tricque-Trac, billiards, chess), exercise and party games (La Paulme, Palle-Mail (Jeu de Mail), the Lotterie plaisante, Hoca, the Game of the Goose, etc.). Ex-libris engraved with the Chassebras family coat of arms on the reverse of the title page. A beautiful copy in a contemporary binding bearing the coat of arms.