The Golden Bottom of Trade

This game dates from around 1850 and is in the Parker Collection of Children's Books and Games, which is kept in the

The Pieces - Not Useful Occupations

The Poet

The Musician

The Milliner

The Pieces - Useful Occupations

The Blacksmith

The Tailor

The Box For The Game

The Rules of the Game

12 figures - representing 6 necessary and 6 unnecessary business, the first of which having white the other blue backsides - are sold by auction. Each puts his figures before him.

The beginner of the play, destined by the lot, puts one of his figures in the midst of the play-circle, throwing once the two dice: both the numbers thrown proceed placing themselves on both sides of the first: the colours of the dice point out by their backsides the requested figures.

Each person putting up unnecessary business, receives from the first as many marks as shows the number of the first's backside: the other, driving a unnecessary one ought again dicing with the first: dicing more, he gets as much more as cast this: if less, he has to pay as much to him.

He who casts most, remains in his place, the other two withdraw and this one appoints by a new throw of dice those two, who have to play in the same way as aforesaid and so on.

If two acting persons throw both the same number, they win the whole stake and the play is at an end.