A Descriptive Bibliography of Edmond Hoyle

Copyright © 2014-26 by David Levy

(page updated 2026-01-30)


Whist.1.P.1.1

A Short Treatise on the Game of Whist, printed for W. Webster, first piracy of the first edition, first edition, 1743.

whist.1.p.1.1.jpg Title: A SHORT | TREATISE | On the Game of | WHIST. | CONTAINING | The LAWS of the GAME: | AND ALSO | Some Rules, whereby a Beginner may, | with due Attention to them, attain to | the Playing it well. | Calculations for thoſe who will Bet the | Odds on any Point of the Score of the | Game then playing and depending. | Cases ſtated, to ſhew what may be effected | by a very good Player in Critical Parts | of the Game. | References to Cases, viz. at the End of | the Rule you are directed how to find them. | Calculations, directing with moral Certainty, | how to play well any Hand or Game, by ſhewing | the Chances of your Partner’s having | 1, 2, or 3 Certain Cards. | With Variety of Caſes added in the Appendix. | [rule] | By a Gentleman. | [double rule] | Bath printed, and London reprinted | For W. Webster near St. Paul's, and ſold by all the | Bookſellers and Pamphlet Shops in Town and Country. | MDCCXLIII.
Collation: 8o: [A]4 χ2 B–M4 [$½ (−L2) signed]; 50 leaves, pp. π[1–5] 6–8 [9–12], [1] 2–86 [87–88] [misprinting 52 as 53]
Half Title: ‘A SHORT | TREATISE | On the Game of | WHIST.’
Contents: Signature (Page) Reference Contents Signature (Page) Reference Running Titles
A1r (π1) half title
A1v (π2) blank
A2r (π3) title
A2v (π4) blank
A3r–A4v (π5–8) ‘[headpiece] | Advertisements. | [letter from a Gentleman at Bath]’
χ1r–χ2v (π9–12) ‘[headpiece] | THE | CONTENTS. | [...]’ χ1v–χ2v (π10–12) ‘The Contents.’
B1r–M3v (1–86) ‘[headpiece] | A SHORT | TREATISE | ON | The Game of Whiſt. | [...]’
M4r–M4v (87–88) blank
Catchwords: D4r(23) again; [again,]
Publisher: James Mechell
Printer: James Mechell (Cogan v Chapelle, ornaments)
Advertisements: 1743-02-19 General Evening Post: "This day was published, price 2s. A Short Treatise on the Game of Whist...N. B. This has been privately sold for one guinea. By a Gentlemen. Bath printed, London reprinted, for W. Webster..."
Price: 2s. (advertisement)
References: ESTC T106241, Horr 642, Jessel 774, Marshall s7 no.8 p4 (1889-07-06), Rather 2
Copies Seen: BFl [I.795/HOYL (b1124768)]; L [E.2208(2)]; O [38474 e.21] (Google); O [Jessel e.638]; O [Jessel e.641] (ECCO) (title state 4 and gathering B setting 2); CLU-C [*GV1277.H86 1743]; CLU-SC [uncat] (Internet Archive); CSmH [303092]; CSt [GV1277.H89 1743]; CU-BANC [pGV1277.H69 S5 1743]; DLC [AC901.M5 vol. 1049, no. 1 Misc Pam]; ICN [V1639.42] (gathering E setting 2); NNPM [PML 79484]; NvLN [GV1277.H69]; OCl [789.87H F43W]; TNJ [GV1277.H87 1743a c.2]; TxU [GV1277.H89]; Levy [1045]; Levy [1679]; Levy [1680]; Levy [1760]
Other Copies: C [S413.c.74.1]; C [Syn 7.74.46(12)]; TNMS [419] (gatherings B and K setting 2); Bodard; CtY-BR [NLp80 742ha]; CtY-LW [63 743 H85A]; KU-S [C970]; LU [GV1277.H89]; MoU [GV1277.H69 1743]; ViW [GV1277.H89 1743]
Notes: There are two settings of gatherings B-H and K and one setting of I, L, M, A, and χ. Within gathering A, there are two settings of the half title, four states of the title page, and two states of the advertisement on A3r. Title page state 1 is found with setting 1 of the half title and state 1 of the advertisement. Title page state 2 is found with setting 2 of the advertisement and state 1 of the advertisement. Title page states 3 and 4 are found with setting 2 of the half title and state 2 of the advertisement. These variations in type are illustrated here).

Copies with the first setting of gatherings B-H and K are are included here as first editions. All have the first setting of the half title, the first state of the title page, and the first state of the adverisement, with exceptions noted.

Copies with the second setting of gatherings B-H and K are second editions (described here) and have the second setting of the half title, the second through fourth states of the title page, and the second state of the advertisement.

There are occasional copies of a first edition with a second setting of one or two gatherings and similarly an occasional second edition with a first setting of one of the gatherings. These anomolies are noted with the respective copies. In particular O [Jessel e.641] is included here despite its fourth state title page. The rest of the gatherings are first settings, so the book is recorded here as a first edition, even though the title page identifies it as a second edition.

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