**Originally Listed At $300**

North America, United States, Ohio, Cincinnati, ca. 1906 CE; Northwestern Europe, England, Napoleonic era, ca. early 19th century CE. A pair of domino sets made under vastly different circumstances: a set of paper domino cards and directions made by the American Sniff card company, and a hand carved bone set made by French prisoners using scraps of ox and mutton bone saved from their meals. The Sniff cards have a gilt edge and a blue patterned face. The set of bovine bone dominoes includes 32 tiles, but likely once had the usual 36. The miniature tiles are housed in a bone and wood case. The sliding lid has a broad tongue and fits in to the grooves on the box. The exterior is decorated with concentric bullseye circles that are painted red, black, red, and green. These sets were popular amongst French whittlers while imprisoned in England. Dominos was mostly unknown in England, until the influx of French prisoners from the Napoleonic wars introduced the game. Size (bone box): 5.3" L x 1" W (13.5 cm x 2.5 cm); (cards): 2.3" L x 1.3" W (5.8 cm x 3.3 cm)

Provenance: private J. P. collection, Rye, Colorado, USA; ex-Bill Buffinger collection, Hollywood, California, USA, before 2010

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

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Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.

#166187

Staining to card box. The cards are slightly discolored from age. Missing cards, 55 included out of 73. The directions are stained and discolored from age. Tearing and creases. Perforation and losses to some text, but most rules are intact and legible. Chips and losses to bone lid, base, and lip of box. Natural ossification and pitting of tiles. Only 32 tiles included. Nice retention of pigments on tiles and case.