Beschreibung:

A collection of early American playing card ephemera: Prohibition Against Playing With Cards , 1792, New York, Mayor Richard Varick. An original tavern license granted on March 1, 1792 to Adam Chirnside (?) and signed by Richard Varick, mayor of New York from 1789 to 1800. Partially printed, the license reads in part, "Now, the Condition of this Recognizance is such, That if the said Adam Chirnside do not, during the time that he shall keep an Inn or Tavern, keep a disorderly Inn or Tavern, or suffer or permit and Cock-fighting, Gaming, or Playing with Cards or dice, or keep any Billiard-Table, or other gaming table, or Shuffle-Board, within the Inn or Tavern by him to be kept, or within any Out-House, Yard or Garden belonging thereunto; then this Recognizance to be void, else to remain in full Force. Taken and acknowledged the day and Year above written, Before me, (s) Richard Varick." Countersigned on the rear by Adam Chirnside, March 1, 1792. Size 12 5/8 in. (32 cm) high, 7 7/8 in. (20 cm) wide. Crease across center. -- "Origin of Cards," published in the Gazettte of the United States , Saturday, September 4, 1790, No. 42 of Vol. II., article reads, "ORIGIN OF CARDS. CARDS were invented in the reign of Charles VI, king of France, to amuse him during the intervals of that disorder which conducted him to the grave. The world would have suffered no loss, had his majesty been suffered to die in peace without this invention." Size of Gazette page is 16 3/8 in. (41.5 cm.) high, 10 1/4 in. (26 cm.) wide. Some foxing. (2)