an odd patent

[Jan Ivarsson TransEdit]

The card game of "Pharaon" is documented in France since 1691 and got its name from the name of the king of hearts.
Jan Ivarsson

----- Original Message -----
From: "James A. Landau" <JJJRLandau at AOL.COM>
To: <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
Sent: Tuesday, November 26, 2002 2:09 AM
Subject: Re: an odd patent


> In a message dated 11/25/2002 3:11:08 PM Eastern Standard Time,
> george.thompson at NYU.EDU writes:
>
> >  two boxes for dealing cards at the Pharo bank.  [One of the pharo boxes is
> > said to be the invention of] the noted gambler Baily, who had a patent for
> > the same, from the patent office of the United States.  ***  We have heard
> of
> > many patents . . . , but this is the first time we have heard of a patent
> for
> > an improvement in the art of swindling
>
> Unfortunately a fire on the night of December 14-15, 1836, destroyed the
> Patent Office, with the result that many patents issued before the fire are
> no longer extant.
>
> Does the quotation say that this particular patented Pharo box is designed
> for the purpose of cheating at Pharo?  (analogous to a patent on a new way of
> marking cards?)  Or is the writer considering the game of Pharo to be
> dishonest (as is 3-card monte, which is rarely if ever played honestly)?
>
> Interesting spelling of "Pharo".  In Wild West days it seems to have been
> invariably spelled "faro", and it is said that the name was inspired by the
> Egyptian scenes on the back of 19th Century playing cards, which would imply
> the Biblical spelling "Pharaoh".  (I have no idea if this is a correct
> etymology or an etymythology).
>
>       - Jim Landau
>