Wright, F.A. Logomachy, or War of the Words. Cincinnati: F.A. Wright [1874]

(90 x 65 mm) Two complete decks of 56 cards each. 4 vowel cards, 2 consonant cards, 1 card for rarer letters (J, K, Q, V, X, Z). Each card framed in border of sticks, most decorated with songbird with outstretched wings; rarer letters with different decorative scenes. Some cards have small nicks to edges or are faded, one deck has several cards with historic tape repairs. No original box. Original instructions and Special Notice with historic tape repairs and splits. Condition suggests use as game. Housed in Ginna & Co. New York single-color, green, lithographic tin with Mallard business name and decorative vignettes, ca. 1874-1901. Overall GOOD condition.

This word building game predates Scrabble by about 75 years. Similar to Scrabble, the objective here is to “capture as many Cards as possible, by taking Tricks or Words, and especially the Prize cards.” A Trick is achieved by spelling a word using one card from your hand of cards to recieve the points from the other cards. As with Scrabble, the rarer letters are worth more points. The instructions suggest that once you’re familiar with this mode of playing there are serveral variations.

The cards are housed in a rare Ginna and Co. single-color lithographic tin rather than their original cardboard box. Founded in Brooklyn in 1874, Ginna and Co created unusually ornate tins for spices and tobacco. However by 1901, the company was bought by the American Can Co.. This tin bares the Ginna and Co stamp, indicating that the tin is contemporary with the cards and, combined with the condition and vernacular repairs, suggest that this was a well-played set of cards in remarkable condition for its use.