Poker Illustrated: "Soon Parted"

Lancaster, OH: N.p., Circa 1890s. Original manuscript scrapbook of poker memorabilia, presented to the Lancaster, Ohio Poker Club by "two victims" of the club, identified as Ecaroh Nidri and Trebor Niarud (almost certainly pseudonyms) on the first page. Charmingly illustrated throughout with 14 original photographs of the club's members, as well as multiple tipped-in objects, including three gambling tokens, a small newspaper clipping, and a miniature hand of playing cards showing a royal flush.

Industrial production boomed in Lancaster following the discovery of a large pocket of natural gas in 1889, drawing a wave of settlers into the rapidly expanding city. While the scrapbook is undated, the handwriting and figures in the photographs indicate the book was created around this period. A delightful and lively look into small-scale gambling and social clubs at the turn of the century.

Brown calf leather boards with gilt titles, top-bound with eight halved sections of bottling cork attached to each corner of the front and rear boards. 17 pages, rectos only. Very Good or better, with a few pages missing tipped-in items.

[Book #151360]