British writer (1672–1769) whose best-selling codifications of the rules for the most popular card games of his day led to the familiar authoritative phrase “according to Hoyle.” Signed book: Mr. Hoyle’s Games. First edition. London: Thomas Osborne, no date [circa 1760s]. Leather-bound hardcover, 3.75 x 5.5, 216 pages. Signed in ink on the title page, “Edmond Hoyle” and [publisher/seller] “Tho: Osborne.” The runaway success of Hoyle’s book (this copy being from the thirteenth printing) led to numerous piracies and knockoffs; a printed “Advertisement” includes the notice “No Copies of this Book are genuine, but what are signed by Edmond Hoyle and Thomas Osborne.” In good condition, with leather worn and dried out, covers detached, a few tears and chips at gutter of signed page, fold (as in all copies) touching Hoyle’s signature, and mild scattered spotting. The signatures are otherwise dark and unaffected. A must-have for serious collectors of game- and gambling-related material! R&R COA.
