[Rarebooks] FS: Phelan's GAME OF BILLIARDS, 1863, illustrated: "the father of American billiards"

[Charles Agvent]

 From our upcoming annual End of Summer Miscellany Catalogue due to be posted on 
our home page any day now.  It will contain a variety of fine and unusual items, 
including interesting Autographs, uncommon Modern First Editions, scarce 
Americana titles, and unusual Baseball and other Sporting items, such as this:

PHELAN, Michael. THE GAME OF BILLIARDS. New York: D. Appleton  and
Company    1863.  Fifth  Edition.   "Revised,  Enlarged,  and   Richly
Embellished  with  Engravings." First published in 1856, all  editions
of  this  early billiards book, the second American book on the  game,
are  scarce.  The  author, Michael Phelan, also  published  the  first
American  book  on the game, BILLIARDS WITHOUT MASTER,  just  thirteen
years   before  this  edition.  Considered   the  father  of  American
billiards,  Phelan  was  influential  in devising  rules  and  setting
standards  of  behavior,  holds  many patents for  table  designs  and
cushions,  and  is  credited  as being the first to  put  diamonds  on
tables.  Phelan almost single-handedly turned American billiards  into
a  socially acceptable pastime. This book is indeed richly embellished
with  engravings,  mostly full-page diagrams showing shots  on  tables
but  also  including full-page and text engravings of  people  playing
billiards.  The author covers rules, practical advice, and the history
of  the game, including a brief chapter on Shakespeare as a  billiards
player.    There  are  four  pages  of   ads  at  the  end  with   two
illustrations.  This book appears to have had a frontispiece  portrait
of  the  author. A tissue guard is present, and there is a very,  very
faint  image  on  the verso of the opposite page indicating  that  the
portrait  would  have  been  removed long  ago.  Despite  the  missing
portrait, a Fine, bright copy.                                $1500.00

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offerings.  Thank you.

CHARLES AGVENT
291 Linden Road
Mertztown, PA  19539-8750
Voice/Fax: 610-682-4750
agvent at erols.com
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