Beautiful marker made by Chas. Goodall & Sons Ltd London 1820 - 1922.

TODAY, nothing remains of Charles Goodall’s Camden Works, where three-quarters of the playing cards printed in Britain were produced

As a child, the founder of the dynasty, Charles Goodall (1785-1851), came to London from Northampton, and was apprenticed to J.W.Hunt, an old and established playing card manufacturer, in 1801.

The Goodall business was first established in Soho in 1820, printing playing cards and message cards. The earliest cards were traditional in appearance, and resemble those of Hunt. During the 1830s the firm expanded into premises in what was then Great College Street. The main factory lay behind the terrace in a building which had formerly been a gun factory and was later used for the production of steam engines. At around this time, Goodall started experimenting with 'modernised' and other court card designs which gradually evolved into those we are familiar with today.

Even though I do not know the age of this marker the company was merged with De La Rue in 1922, and the Camden Works were only kept open until 1929.  The marker is in very good condition with no visible damage.

Bezique (in French, bézique) is a melding and trick-taking card game for two players.

It was developed in France in the seventeenth century from the game piquet and gained its greatest popularity in Britain in the mid-nineteenth century. Perhaps the most famous proponent of the game was Winston Churchill, an avid player and early expert of Six-Pack, or "Chinese," Bezique. There is some evidence that the English writers Wilkie Collins and Christina Rossetti were also enthusiasts.

Overview

The basic game of two-handed Bezique is described below. A Two-Handed Bezique deck is a 64-card deck consisting of Ace through 7 of each suit twice. The players cut for deal, with the higher card having preference. The rank of the cards in cutting, and in play, is A, 10, K, Q, J, 9, 8 and 7. Eight cards are dealt, by three-two-three, to each player with the next card being placed face up between the two players to indicate the trump suit. The remaining cards, known as the "talon" or "stock", are placed face down beside it. Should the turn-up card be a 7 the dealer scores ten.

The non-dealer leads any card from hand and the dealer may then play any card (note the normal requirement to follow suit if possible does not apply to Bezique). If second player chooses to play a higher card of the same suit or any trump  that player wins the trick. If the two cards played are the same (for example, two 9 diamonds), the trick belongs to the first player. Once played, tricks are placed face down by the player who wins each trick. The holder of the trump 7 is entitled to exchange it for the turn-up card at any time when on lead, scoring 10. The holder of the duplicate trump 7 also scores 10 when it is played.

The winner of each trick declares (if possible) one meld face up on the table and marks points for it, takes a card from the top of the stock and then leads to the next trick. The other player draws the second card from the stock but may not declare a meld. The game proceeds until the stock is exhausted, at which point 8 more tricks are played to exhaust the players hands. Finally, brisques are scored.

The game is usually played as first to 1000 points.

Payment is Appreciated within seven days of purchase either by cheque or Paypal for UK Buyers or Paypal for International Buyers.

I cannot accept International cheques or money orders due to the exessive bank changes.

I also will not accept any responsibility for any loss incurred in send cash and I do not recommend any such action.

Weight

10g to 100g     £2.00  for Europe  and   £2,50 rest of World

upto 300g              20p per 20g for Europe           -      23p per 20g for Rest of World

then up to 500g   11p per 20g  for Europe           -       22p per 20g  for Rest of World 

upto 2Kg                10p per 20g for Europe           -       20p per 20g for Rest of world

After 2kg Royal Mail will not accept parcels it then has to be sent by courier.

When an item is shipped a Certificate of Posting is obtained.  I have found in the past that these do not compensate International Purchasers so if you would like your item covered for loss or damage please request insurance. This is normally around the £2 mark depending on the compensation level required.

If an item does not match description I will give a full refund if the item is returned within seven days. 

In the first instant please email me and let me know of the problem.

I do not leave feedback until i know an item has arrived and you are satisfied.  The easiest way to for you to leave a feedback saying the item arrived safely.

You can contact us either by using the Ebay contact member link or by Email to ladyaaron@btopenworld.com .