Théodore le Gras - Académie des jeux - 1739

[SOCIAL GAMES / CHESS / TRICTRAC]. — UNIVERSAL ACADEMY OF GAMES (PARIS, THÉODORE LE GRAS, 1739). Paris: Théodore Le Gras, 1739. In-12. Full period calfskin binding, spine with raised bands and ornamentation. Edition fort sought-after of the famous Universal Academy of Games, printed in Paris by Théodore Le Gras in the Grand Hall of the Palais in 1739. A true code of honor and entertainment of the high society of the eighteenth century, this work gathers the complete rules, tactics, probabilities and usages governing parlor games. It contains a detailed description of the era’s major card games (Hombre, Piquet, Quadrille, Reversis), of games of thought and memory (Chess), as well as of board and dice games highly coveted at European courts (Trictrac, Billiards, etc.). Beautiful specimen preserved in its period full brown marbled calfskin binding. The spine with raised bands is very well preserved with bright gilt on the compartments, slight wear at the lower cap, and very light rubbing at the corners. Interior clean and fresh on laid paper with Théodore Le Gras’s typographic mark on the title page. In the eighteenth century, gaming was not merely a pastime; it was a genuine social science. A bad loser or a cheating player was immediately banished from the salons. Owning the Universal Academy of Games allowed one to settle any dispute between gentlemen on the spot during games of Piquet or Trictrac. The 1739 edition printed by Théodore Le Gras at the Palais de Justice (“à l’L couronnée”) is particularly prized for the precision of its chapters devoted to chess and to trictrac. Presented in its beautiful period calf binding, this copy is a coveted piece for any collection on the history of manners, amusements, and ancient games.

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