Boston And Bog Game Set From Alphonse Giroux, Paris, Early 19th Century

A superb and rare complete parlor set for betting games from the first half of the 19th century (Restoration / Louis-Philippe periods). This exceptionally complete set includes a versatile tabletop box for the Game of Boston and a lithographed board for the Game of Bog.

1. The Table Game Set:

• Exterior: Light-colored wood-veneer box, decorated in the center with a blackened wooden escutcheon.
  Original closure with two side brass hooks; one is broken. Features a beautiful period patina with superficial scratches from use on the lid; a few chips.
• Interior: Original removable compartments made of woven straw, housing a large collection of betting tokens, chips, and shuttles made of bone and mother-of-pearl (some dyed green, red, and yellow).
• Accessories: Two mechanical metal score counters in perfect working order
• Two bone dice

2. Historical Documents & Prestigious Provenance

• Official printed booklet for “PAIEMENS DU BOSTON” signed by the prestigious Parisian tablet maker: “Printed by Alphonse GIROUX, 7 Rue du Coq, St. Honoré” (address in use prior to 1854; famous supplier to the royal family).
• Two handwritten documents from the period, calligraphied with a quill
  • A double-page sheet detailing the “Rules of Boston from Fontainebleau.”
  • A cardboard sheet presenting the “Suits and Payouts” chart with the card suits (hearts, diamonds, clubs, spades) hand-painted.

3. The Bog Game Board: A foldable hexagonal board made of sturdy lithographed cardboard, decorated with traditional playing cards and marked with the inscription “BOG” in cartouches

dimensions: 29.5 x 23.5 x 4.5 cm