[Ads-l] Jack pot (UNCLASSIFIED)

Tue Dec 1 16:24:49 UTC 2015

CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED

You cannot use copyright dates as issue dates for D&F books.  They published a number of 19th century magic books, and collectors are all the time fretting over dates of issue.  As Garson suspects, they will issue updated editions without changing copyright dates.

For example, in the book Garson links to, "Fireside Games", ostensibly issued in 1859, there is an ad page for "Uncle Josh's Trunkful of Fun" -- a book which doesn't seem to have been published until 1869.  Also an ad for "How to Join the Circus" by Tony Denier, written 1877.

> 
> ---------------------- Information from the mail header -----------------------
> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster:       ADSGarson O'Toole <adsgarsonotoole at GMAIL.COM>
> Subject:      Re: Jack pot
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> Following the lead of the intriguing citations found by Peter I've located an instance of "Jack Pots" that was printed between the covers of a
> book with an 1859 copyright. The term "Jack Pots" appeared in an appended section filled with advertisements from the publisher of the
> book. However, I now suspect that the book was reprinted and the advertising section was created at a date later than 1859.
> 
> Although this message is about a specific narrow question it may be of wider interest to ADS list readers because it highlights a mechanism
> that might lead to misdating citations.
> 
> The apparent 1866 citation located by Peter appears in the same type of appended advertising section, and there may be some uncertainty
> about its date.
> 
> Peter's 1868 citation for "Jack Pots" is in the main text of the book and looks solid, I think.
> 
> The instance of "Jack Pots" in these citations is the name of a specific card game; hence, the semantics differs a bit from the definition of
> "jack pot" given in the OED which indicates that the term refers to a betting pool (e.g., money or other valuables) or a prize. The citation is
> useful because it helps to illuminate the etymology of "jack pot", I think.
> 
> Here is the Oxford English Dictionary definition for "jack pot", noun (under the entry for the word "jack", noun)
> 
> [Begin excerpt]
> jack-pot n.  (a) in draw-poker, a pot or pool that has to accumulate until one of the players can open the betting with a pair of jacks or
> better; hence fig.; (also) any large prize, as from a lottery or a gambling machine; often, a prize that accumulates until it is won; to hit the
> jack-pot: to win such a prize; to have an extraordinary stroke of luck, (b) (see quot. 1914).
> [End excerpt]
> 
> Here is the metadata for the apparent 1859 citation and a set of links into HathiTrust:
> 
> Year: 1859 Copyright
> Title: Fireside Games for Winter Evening Amusement: A Repertory of Social Recreations, Containing an Explanation of the Most Entertaining
> Games Suited to the Family Circle, and Also Adapted for Social Gatherings, Pic-nics and Parties
> Publisher: Dick and Fitzgerald, New York
> Page: Unnumbered page in appended advertising section
> 
> Link to the main page of the book:
> Caution-Caution-http://hdl.handle.net/2027/nc01.ark:/13960/t3xs6ss20
> 
> Link to title page of book:
> Caution-Caution-http://hdl.handle.net/2027/nc01.ark:/13960/t3xs6ss20?urlappend=%3Bseq=7
> 
> Link to page with 1859 date:
> Caution-Caution-http://hdl.handle.net/2027/nc01.ark:/13960/t3xs6ss20?urlappend=%3Bseq=8
> 
> Link to page with "Jack Pots":
> Caution-Caution-http://hdl.handle.net/2027/nc01.ark:/13960/t3xs6ss20?urlappend=%3Bseq=153
> 
> The publisher Dick and Fitzgerald appended an advertising section which listed other titles the company was offering for sale including:
> "Trump's" American Hoyle; or, Gentleman's Hand-Book of Games.
> 
> Here is the part of the advertisement that mentioned "Jack Pots":
> 
> [Begin excerpt]
> It also contains clear descriptions of all the games played in the United States, with the American rules for playing them; including Euchre,
> Bezique, Cribbage, Baccara, All Fours, Loo, Poker, Brag, Piquet, Pedro Sancho, Penuchle, Railroad Euchre, Jack Pots, Ecarte, .
> . .
> [End excerpt]
> 
> If the advertising section was created at a time that matched the book copyright (or before) then this citation would be an antedating.
> However, it seems likely that the "Fireside Games" book was reprinted and a newly updated advertising section was appended. I have seen
> this happen with other books. If the advertising section was updated then its date of creation becomes uncertain.
> 
> I tried to determine the publication date of the book which was being
> advertised: "Trump's" American Hoyle; or, Gentleman's Hand-Book of Games. Unfortunately, WorldCat reveals that there is some
> uncertainty about the publication date of the book.
> 
> The earliest edition was dated 1864 but it was a "3d ed., carefully rev. with numerous corrections and additions". Therefore this does not
> rule out an 1859 edition.
> 
> So I examined an 1864 edition of "The American Hoyle" located in HathiTrust, and I was unable to find the section about "Jack Pots". I think
> this section was added at a later time.
> 
> Caution-Caution-http://hdl.handle.net/2027/hvd.hn5tr6
> 
> The term "Jack Pots" may have been added in 1868. The 1868 edition of "The Modern Pocket Hoyle: Containing All the Games of Skill and
> Chance as Played in this Country at the Present Time" in Google Books states the following in the "Preface to the Seventh edition" (as Peter
> alluded to):
> 
> [Begin excerpt]
> Among the many notable changes and additions presented in this edition, particular attention may be called to the following: The games of
> Pedro, and Pedro Sancho, which are of Western origin, and promise to become general favorites; Jack-Pots, a modification of the game of
> Draw Poker, now rapidly gaining in popularity. . .
> [End excerpt]
> 
> Of course, there may be divergent editions with different updates. But based on current information the 1859 and 1866 citations for "Jack
> Pots" are uncertain, I think.
> 
> Garson
> 
> 
> On Mon, Nov 30, 2015 at 4:07 AM, Peter Morris <peter_morris_1 at blueyonder.co.uk> wrote:
> > ---------------------- Information from the mail header -----------------------
> > Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> > Poster:       Peter Morris <peter_morris_1 at BLUEYONDER.CO.UK>
> > Subject:      Jack pot
> > ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> > ---------
> >
> > About a year ago, Fred antedated "jack-pot" to 1873.
> > Caution-Caution-http://listserv.linguistlist.org/pipermail/ads-l/2014-
> > December/135376.htm=
> > l
> >
> >
> > I believe I've found two earlier examples.=20
> >
> > Here is an edition of  The Modern Pocket Hoyle from  1868 It's
> > described as one of the changes/ additions from the previous = edition
> > Caution-Caution-http://tinyurl.com/pq5g9mu
> >
> > And an advert for American Hoyle from 1866 .
> > Caution-Caution-http://tinyurl.com/ox5o89v
> >
> > ------------------------------------------------------------
> > The American Dialect Society -
> > Caution-Caution-http://www.americandialect.org
> 
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> The American Dialect Society - Caution-Caution-http://www.americandialect.org
CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED

------------------------------------------------------------
The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org