A Descriptive Bibliography of Edmond Hoyle

Copyright © 2014-26 by David Levy

(page updated 2020-07-24)


Withy.Whist.A

Twelve Rules for Whist, first London edition, 1781.

Title: Twelve Short Standing Rules | for ſhort Memories at the | Game of Whiſt. | By Bob. Short.
Collation: 6.3 x 9.2: A1 [unsigned]; 1 leaf, pp. [2 ]
Contents: Signature (Page) Reference Contents Signature (Page) Reference Running Titles
A1r title
A1v ‘ROBERT WITHY, | STOCK BROKER and AUCTIONEER, | BEGS Leave to inform his Friends and the Public, | That he continues to Buy and Sell by Commiſſion, | at Public or Private Sale, Estates, Life Annuities, | Mortgages, Reversions, | Governement and all | other Securities, alſo the ſame valued, and Lives | Insured on the moſt Reaſonable Terms. | [...]’
Publisher: Robert Withy
Advertisements: 1781-01-31 Morning Herald and Daily Advertiser: "No Puff Poz. This day is published, neatly printed on a card. The fourth edition, with additions. Price only 2d. or 1s. a dozen. A New Year's gift for grown masters and misses. Hoyle Abridged; or Twelve Short Standing Rules for Short Memories, at the Game of Whist. By Bob Short...N. B. Signed by the author in such a manner as to defy all counterfeits."
Price: 2d. (advertisement)
References: ESTC T191866
Copies Seen: O [John Johnson Trade Cards 2 (56)] (ECCO)
Notes: Withy advertised and sold a card with twelve rules for whist on one side and an advertisement for his brokerage business on the other. I have elected to treat the whist rules as the recto.

In 1785, Withy expanded the twelve rules to twenty four as Withy.Whist.B.1. In 1791, he produced a much-expanded chapbook version of the rules with added laws and odds as Withy.Whist.C.1.

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