[BARGAGLI (Girolamo)]:

Dialogo de Givochi che nelle vegghie sanesi si usano fare. Del Materiale Intronato. All' Illvstrissima, et Eccellentissima Signora Donna Isabella de' Medici Orsina Duchessa di Bracciano.

In Venetia, Appresso Gio. Antonio Bertano [from last page of text], 1574. 12mo (in 4s and 8s), 145 x 95 mms., pp. [16], 17 - 288, engraved woodcut on title-page, contemporary vellum. A very good to fine copy. Bargagli (?1537 - 1586) published this very popular book first in 1572, and this is the second edition. The "games" are listed in the table of contents in more-or-less alphabetical order, "serious" followed "light" or "pleasant," with appropriate references in the margin. The games as such are exercises in mental agility, using one's intellectual skills for solving puzzles, enigmas, etc. A certain amount of intellectual agility would also be required to follow the text, with its long sentences separated by occasional full stops (periods). "Materiale Intronato" is Bargagli's pseudonym; he was a member of the Accademia degl'Intronati, and the dialogue takes place among imaginary members of the Accademia. George Irving Dale in his "Games and Social Pastimes in the Spanish Drama of the Golden Age" (Hispanic Review, 1940) calls attention to the number of games that Bargagli describes, their appearance in Spanish drama and elsewhere, observing "The first game in Bargagli's book of games is that of cross purposes or themes, "del proposito," in which each player whispers something to his neighbor, who in turn whispers an answer and another question until each player has had a turn; after which the questions and answers are repeated aloud for the pleasure of the company. Bargagli mentions that the game is described in Ariosto's Orlando Furioso and cites the passage. This game was utilized by Cervantes in his Galatea. The dramatists do not seem to have made any use of it." Numerous editions of this work were published after 1572. OCLC locates copies of this 1574 printing by Bertano in Bodleian; Harvard (2) and Illinois; and Girona only.

John Price Antiquarian BooksProfessional seller

Book number: 6914

Catalogue: Games

Keywords: games Italian prose

SKITTLES.

Rules and Instructions for Playing at Skittles. By a Society of Gentlmen.

[London]: Printed for G. Kearsley..., 1786. A printed leaf, 448 x 288, printed on one side only, with coloured illustration of eight men playing skittles at top, the layout of the court or ground, and rules; stained on left-hand side, top margin chipped, two holes in imprint, rather browned, but an uncommon item. "As the Game of Skittles is now a favourite Amusement, a general Guide to remove Doubts, and prevent Disputes, is become necessary. Stimulated by these considerations, a respectable Society of Gentlemen (who are esteemed good Players) have been induced to print the following Rules and Instructions, which they have themselves often lamented the want of, hoping they will be found generally useful, but particularly to Learners." Kearsley offered this for saled at 6d. plain or 1s. coloured. ESTC T228506 locates a copy in the BL; OCLC adds Harvard, Yale, and Princeton.

John Price Antiquarian BooksProfessional seller

Book number: 8542

Catalogue: Games

Keywords: games sport prose