Researches into the history of playing cards;

The first section on the origin of cards, the second section on the history of wood-engraving, the third section on the principal and most interesting games at cards. A very elegant book as one would expect of a Bensley printing.

The author's argument is that the increasing popularity of card games had led to a demand for finer, more artistic packs, which in turn encouraged more skilful wood-engraving. This caused a greater appreciation of carving from earlier eras. Singer was a bookseller and scholar whose great patron was Francis Douce, a collector of early card decks.