1879 Doublets a Word Puzzle

Description

First Edition, Publishers' Original Binding, Scarce

This book is 'a new puzzle' that was first introduced in Vanity Fair in 1879 by Carroll. This work forms a guide to the game, explaining the rules and method of scoring. In the publisher's original red cloth binding. Following this there are examples of Doublets already set in Vanity Fair with the solutions to page 38. Carroll has also included an extensive glossary of many well-known English words of 3, 4, 5 or 6 letters that can be used as links in the game. Carroll adopted the name 'doublets' for this puzzle from a passage in Shakespeare's Macbeth. A better known name for this type of puzzle is 'Word Ladder' or 'Laddergrams'. Carroll invented this game on Christmas day 1877 for Julia and Ethel Arnold who 'found nothing to do'. He first called it 'Word-Links' before changing the name for their publication in 'Vanity Fair'. A noted feature of Carroll's 'Doublets' compared to later inceptions of the game is that the progressions are humorous such as 'Pig' to 'Sty', 'Poor' into 'Rich', 'Ape' to 'Man' and 'Flour to 'Bread'. Prior owner's bookplate to the front pastedown, 'Edward Gaspar Box', once a commoner of Winchester College. A very bright copy of this important work, by the noted mathematician, inventor and author. Carroll devised a number of games, including an early prototype of what is now known as Scrabble.