A Descriptive Bibliography of Edmond Hoyle

Copyright © 2014-26 by David Levy

(page updated 2026-01-30)


Polite.Wilson

The Polite Gamester, printed for Peter Wilson, first Wilson collection, 1752.

polite.wilson.jpg Title: THE | Polite Gameſter: | CONTAINING, | SHORT TREATISES | On the Games of | [2 lines braced to right] WHIST, | QUADRILLE, | [two lines braced to left] BACK-GAMMON, | PIQUET and CHESS. | TOGETHER WITH | An Artificial Memory, | OR, AN | Eaſy Method of aſſiſting the Me-|mory of thoſe that Play at the Game of | WHIST. | [rule] | By Edmund Hoyle, Gent. | [double rule] | DUBLIN: | Printed for Peter Wilson, in Dame-Street. | M,DCC,LII.
Collation: 12o: π1(=E2?) A2 B–D6 E1 F4, 2A4, 3A2 B6, 4A–B6 C4, 5A–C6 [$½ signed; signing F1 as F2, F2 as F3]; 72 leaves, pp. [6 ] [1] 2–45 [46], 2[1–3] 4–8, 3[1–3] [4–16], 4[1–3] 4–28 [29–32], 5[1–3] 4–33 [34–36]
Section Title Whist see Whist.D.Wilson.1
Section Title Memory see Whist.D.Wilson.1
Section Title Quadrille A SHORT | TREATISE | On the GAME of | QUADRILLE. | SHEWING | The Odds of winning or loſing moſt | Games that are commonly played; either by | calling a King, or by playing Sans Prendre. | To which is added | The LAWS of the GAME. | By EDMOND HOYLE, Gent. | DUBLIN: | Printed for Peter Wilson, in Dame-ſtreet. | M, DCC, LII.
Section Title Backgammon A SHORT | TREATISE | On the Game of | BACK-GAMMON. | CONTAINING, | A Table of the thirty-ſix Chances, with Directions | how to find out the Odds of being hit, upon ſingle, | or double Dice. | Rules whereby a Beginner may, with due Attention | to them, attain playing it well. | The ſeveral Stages for carrying your Men home, in | order to loſe no Point. | How to find out who is forwardeſt to win a Hit. | Caſes ſtated for Back-Games, with Directions how | to play for one. | Caſes ſtated, how to know when you may have the | better of ſaving a Gammon by running. | Variety of Caſes of Curioſity and Inſtruction. | The Laws of the Game. | By EDMOND HOYLE, Gent. | DUBLIN: | Printed for Peter Wilson, in Dame-ſtreet. | M, DCC, LII.
Section Title Piquet A SHORT | TREATISE | On the GAME of | PIQUET. | Directing with Moral Certainty how to | diſcard any Hand to Advantage, by ſhewing the | Chances of taking in any one, two, three, four, | or five certain Cards. | Computations for thoſe who Bet their Money | at the Game. | Alſo the LAWS of the GAME. | To which are added, | Some Rules and Obſervations for playing well | at CHESS. | By EDMOND HOYLE, Gent. | DUBLIN: | Printed for Peter Wilson, in Dame-ſtreet. | M, DCC LII.
Contents: Signature (Page) Reference Contents Signature (Page) Reference Running Titles
π1r collected title page
π1v blank
A1r–A2v see Whist.D.Wilson.2
B1r–F4v (1–46) see Whist.D.Wilson.2
2A1r (21) section title memory
2A1v–A4v (22–8) see Whist.D.Wilson.1
3A1r (31) section title quadrille
3A1v (32) ‘CONTENTS. | [...]’
3A2r–B6v (33–16) ‘A | TREATISE | On the Game of | QUADRILLE. | [..]’ 3A2v–B6r (34–15) ‘A ſhort Treatiſe on the | Game of Quadrille.’
3B6v (316) ‘A ſhort Treatiſe on the, &c.’
4A1r (41) section title backgammon
4A1v (42) blank
4A2r–C2r (43–27) ‘[double rule] | A Short | TREATISE | On the Game of | BACK-GAMMON. | [...]’
4C2v (428) ‘THE | LAWS | OF | BACK-GAMMON. | [...]’
4C3r–C4r (429–31) ‘[double rule] | An Alphabetical | TABLE | OF THE | CONTENTS. | [...]’
4C4v (432) blank
5A1r (51) section title piquet
5A1v (52) blank
5A2r–B6r (53–23) ‘[double rule] | A | TREATISE | On the GAME of | PIQUET. | [...]’ 5A2v–B6r (54–23) ‘A Treatiſe on Piquet.’
5B6v–C4v (524–32) ‘[double rule] | SOME | Rules and Observations | FOR | Playing well at CHESS. | [...]’ 5C1r–C4v (525–32) ‘Rules and Obſervations | for playing at CHESS.’
5C5r (533) ‘LAWS at CHESS. | [...]’ 5C5r (533) ‘for playing at CHESS.’
5C5v (534) ‘CONTENTS | FOR | PIQUET. | [...]’
5C6r (535) ‘CONTENTS | FOR | CHESS. | [...]’
5C6v (536) blank
Catchwords: 3A2r(33) King [Clubs]; 4A5r(49) Six [XI. Six]; 4C3v(430) an [Hitting,]
Publisher: Peter Wilson
Advertisements: 1752-02-17 Dublin Esdall's News-Letter: “This day is published, by Peter Wilson, opposite the old Horse Guard, in Dame-Street, [Price a British Shilling,] The Polite Gamester: containing short treatises on the games of whist quadrille, back-gammon, piquet and chess; together with an artificial memory; or, an easy method of assisting the memory of those that play at the game of whist; By Edmund Hoyle, Gent.—Note, his treatise on the game of whist with his artificial memory, may be had stitched together. Price 4d.”
Price: 1s. (advertisement)
References: ESTC N24780, Jessel 811, Marshall s7 no.8 p404 (1889-11-23)
Copies Seen: O [Jessel f.573]; Copisarow (with Whist.D.Wilson.1 instead of Whist.D.Wilson.2).; CSmH [356641]; NvLN [GV1241.H86 1752] (with Brag.D.1); OCl [789.87H F52D] (with Brag.D.1); TNJ [GV1241.H8P 1752a]; Levy [1770] (with Whist.D.Wilson.1 instead of Whist.D.Wilson.2).; Levy [1791]
Other Copies: Gsu [Special Coll. Anderson] (with Brag.D.1)
Notes: This normal makeup includes the second issue of Whist.D.Wilson.2 although copies can be found with the first issue, Whist.D.Wilson.1. Some copies include Brag.D.1.

Home