Beschreibung:

[Wallis, John, publisher]. An Arithmetical Pastime; Intended to Infuse the Rudiments of Arithmetic, under the idea of amusement, printed by T. Gillet, [1798], folding hand-coloured aquatint game, sectionalised on linen, with 100 circular counter spaces arranged in a spiral on 4 sections, some with illustrations, others with an instruction, the facing 4 sections with rules, tables of weights and measures, and verses corresponding to the illustrations, lightly toned, some minor marks and foxing, overall size 32 x 70 cm, size when folded 16 x 17.5 cm, linen verso of one section with early hand-drawn illustration of a coachman in seated position holding a whip, without the slipcase (Quantity: 1) Provenance: The Estcourt family of Estcourt House, near Tetbury, Gloucestershire. Whitehouse p.33/4. One of the rarer table games, this seldom appears at auction. From an era when it was considered not enough to instruct in mathematics only, the verses are infused with moral teachings also, for example: 'Now you've enter'd your teens be afraid of mishap,/'Tis not all that's call'd happiness ends in true joy./The rose-buds of pleasure oft cover a trap;/Stop a turn to survey, want of thought may destroy.'