4 Decks Dougherty “Pilot” Playing Cards, Bezique Set, Mudie Import, c.1890

Antiques : Playing Cards U.S : Dougherty "Pilot" Bezique

 

Beautiful and extremely rare bezique set, with four decks of cards, “Pilot” brand, made by Andrew Dougherty c.1890, and imported by Mudie & Sons of England. The set includes two bezique markers with ivory tabs, Goodall type, and comes housed in its original dark maroon box. The box has a drop down front and a fabric interior, with compartments to house the four decks of cards, and recessed ledges to hold the bezique markers. Along the back rim of the interior of the box the following words are embossed in gold gilt: “Mudie & Sons, 16 Coventry St. Piccadilly. W.” The lid of the box snaps shut by means of a discreet small clasping device – activated by a metal bead at the front.

Mudie & Sons was a famous publishing name in England in the second half of the 19th century, and the first quarter of the 20th. Among other things, it was the major importer of American fiction into England during this period, including Melville’s “Moby Dick,” there published originally as “The Whale.” Mudie also originated lending libraries in England, pre-dating public libraries, where books could be borrowed for a modest annual fee by those that could not afford to buy. To digress for a moment, Prof. George Landow of Brown University described the impact of those libraries as follows:

“Between 1842 and 1894 Charles Edward Mudie's lending library influenced Victorian literature, particularly fiction, in two chief ways: first, by making sure that almost all novels appeared in three volumes, it had important effects on the structure, plot, style, and even imaginative worlds of the Victorian novel; and second, by acting as a censor who demanded fiction suited to the middle-class family, it controlled their subject, scope, and morality of the novel for fifty years.

“As astute businessman, Mudie had first opened his lending library to make available nonfiction, and in fact, he always devoted a large part of his stock -- usually about a third -- to such works. But he soon realized the market for novels, and this recognition brought great literary power and financial reward. Mudie’s enormous success depended upon a combination of astute tactics. First of all, the famous guinea yearly subscription fee allowed a customer to borrow an unlimited number of volumes one at a time. Second, demanding that publishers produce only three-decker novels allowed him to divide up one novel among three subscribers. Third, by advertising his list of ‘the principal New and Choice Books in circulation’ (Griest 20), he created something very like a best-seller list, which simultaneously made a market and firmly established his power to make reputations. Fourth, he ordered books in large quantities, often taking thousands of volumes and occasionally buying up entire printings, thus insuring his power with both publishers and public: his large stock meant that readers did not have to wait long for popular works.”

Dawson/Hochman describe a Dougherty brand of cards, “Pilot #5”, in the Encyclopedia, and the Ace of Spades in these decks is identical to the Ace there shown, except the words Pilot #5 across the top are not present. Accordingly, I have omitted the “#5” in my identification of the brand, though perhaps it should be included. Dawson/Hochman dates the deck there shown to 1890, and I have adopted that date; however, these cards are without indices, and thus may date even earlier. Because these are bezique decks, they are complete at 32 cards, and have no jokers. With four decks of cards, the set is obviously designed to make it possible to play rubicon bezique as well as regular bezique.

The cards are as new with all gold gilt intact. The bezique markers are in exceptional condition, and the tabs work perfectly. The interior of the box is in “as new” condition, without damage anywhere, and the closing mechanism works perfectly. There are minor signs of age – scuff marks and the like – to the exterior of the box, but it is structurally quite sound, with no problems at the hinges.

This is a rare and extraordinary item, in beautiful shape.

Reference: Dawson, The Hochman Encyclopedia of American Playing Cards, p.80, AD51.

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Item ID: T0000230