Vintage Books on Victorian Games Played in the Parlor, Magic Tricks and Magicians for Sale.

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Parlor Games and Magic Tricks

In the 19th century, before electronics changed our habits, people gathered in homes for entertainment and played parlor or board games for recreation. Learn some old fashioned games such as, Lookabout, Change Seats and Pass the Slipper. Games now associated with Halloween, such as bobbing for apples, were Victorian parlor games intended to help single women predict if Mr. Right might be in their future!

There were, of course, typical games such as cards, backgammon, checkers and chess. But some of the more exciting games were played at parties both large and small. After the meal at a dinner party, guests would retire to the parlor to participate in various games and activities prepared by the host and hostess. The host or hostess might plan seven or eight games to be played throughout the evening with perhaps a light refreshment between games. Amid the fun antics of play-acting and charades resided brainteasers and mathematical puzzles. Below are books poised for evening entertainment in the parlors of 19th century America. See if you are as witty as the Victorians were as you try to play them.

There were parlour games for children as well and many books were written for them. These books often included magic tricks and how-to's on building toys as well as other amusements both inside and out.

To purchase one of these books click on the title or illustration to go to the description page.
Title	Author	Date	Publisher	Condition	Price $US
Series One Dicks Games of Patience Solitaire with Cards	William Dick	1884	Dick and Fitzgerald New York	Very Good	$22.65
Series Two Dicks Games of Patience Solitaire with Cards	William Dick	1898	Dick and Fitzgerald New York	Very Good	$24.67
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