An Astronomical Card Game: Contents, Circulation and Public

Abstract

The present contribution will investigate a card game titled The Elements of Astronomy and Geography, invented in 1795 by the abbot Paris and published in London by John Wallis. In 1807, the game was translated into French language and circulated in a new, reworked edition. On the basis of meaningful, yet little, evidence, some hypotheses on the circulation and the audiences of the game will be outlined. The analysis is part of a wider research project, aimed at analysing a series of science-themed board games and card games, published between the 18th and the 19th century by the Wallises.