The New Round Game of Moorish Fort
Wooden box, 12.5 x 5.5 x 6.5 inches, containing a cast iron "fort," 12 mica marbles/glitter balls (meant to represent soldiers), two hand-painted cast iron flags, a cue, two pushing sticks, two gauges, and four pieces for fashioning a catapult. No itemized contents, but based on the instructions, the set appears to lack the upper part of one pushing stick and an extra cue, but is a remarkably substantial example in Good condition. One panel of the box is pulling away at the joints, leaving a loose fit for the lid. Soil and scuffing to label. With a color copy of the instructions from a ca. 1862, registration mark possibly ca. 1865.
"A new round game of skill, played on an ordinary table covered with a cloth. The fort is placed in the centre of the table, as shown in the illustration. The players strike the balls by means of a small cue, worked in a rest, and the side which first gets the balls into the fort (subject to certain laws laid down in the rules) wins the game." See last photo— provided for reference only, it is not part of the example being offered. It comes from the catalog listing for a similar copy (with fewer glitter balls) sold at auction for 324GBP (hammer price) earlier this year, though the game is generally uncommon.