De La Rue "Cavendish" Whist Marker, c.1868

Antiques : Bridge/Whist Items : Whist Markers

 

Early "Cavendish" whist marker made by De La Rue c.1868, probably the earliest type of whist marker made by that firm. Cavendish was the nom de plume used by a man who wrote several books on whist in the second half of the 19th century, and apparently he was a co-patentee with De La Rue on this item. It is made of a hard pressed cardboard or fibreboard of some kind – almost like papier mache – with little brass beads that slide in grooves. The brass beads attach to little pieces of cardboard paper that push in and out as the beads slide along the grooves. With the tabs in, the marker is 3.7" by 2.5"; with the tabs extended, it is approximately 5.8" by 3.3"

These markers were not designed to last 135+ years, as the construction and materials used are not sturdy. It is quite unusual to find one as well preserved as this one. That said, it should be noted that one of the cardboard tabs has a crease in it.

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Item ID: T0000191