This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/28/2023
TRICKS OF THE TOWN LAID OPEN: OR, A COMPANION FOR COUNTRY GENTLEMEN. London: H. Slater, 1747. Third edition. Smooth brown calf with gilt tooled and titled spine, and gilt-bordered boards (upper detached), gilt turn-ins. Title devices. Pp. [i-ii], iii – viii, [1] – 95, [96]. 4to. Title page cropped close, affecting last line of text, otherwise very good. Scarce. This treatise describes cheating at a wide array of games, including tennis, bowling, cockfights, and horse races, by “sharpers” through the use of “false dice” and “sleights.” It also describes unsavory characters, including whores, gamesters, sots, and money-droppers (con men).