De La Rue Pocket Guides

Published July 25, 2023 Updated September 17, 2023

The 19th Century saw the production, by all of the major companies, of pocket guides or “mini-books” on every type of game.

1864 United KingdomLiteratureDe la RueGoodallBéziqueBridgeWhist
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By Tony Hall

United Kingdom • Member since January 30, 2015

I started my interest in card games about 70 years ago, playing cribbage with my grandfather. Collecting card game materials started 50 years or so later, when time permitted. One cribbage board was a memory; two became the start of a collection currently exceeding 150!

Once interest in the social history of card games was sparked, I bought a wooden whist marker from the 1880s which was ingenious in design and unbelievably tactile. One lead to two and there was no stopping.

What happened thereafter is reflected in my articles and downloads on this site, for which I will be eternally grateful.

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