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Black and White Cocks — an apparently un-Googleable name — was a gambling game played in England in the 19th century. In 1838 it was described as a “well-known game of chance”,A but it seems to have died out before the 20th century.

The caption from the book reads: “A remarkable Caricatura, compounded of ſeveral ſpecies, being by ſome ſuppoſed to be a Sea-Calf, by others a Sea Lion; after having been toſſed about on his native Element for ſome Years, he was caſt aſhore on a gaming Iſland, where he was ſo captivated with Cards and Dice, that he commenced Gameſter, and fixed upon the Iſland ever ſince.” 🅮

The form of the game is still obscure to me, but based upon brief descriptions, it was a gambling game played with a spinning wheel,B probably much like the game E–O (an early form of Roulette). A table with black and white cocks (presumably roosters) painted on it was used, probably as a staking layout,C where bets as low as a penny could be placed.A Like other games of this type, it was played at racecourse meetsD and fairs.E

An earlier depiction of or reference to the game possibly appears in a satirical depiction of John Byng in the book A Political and Satirical History of the Years 1756 and 1757 (p. 36). At top left, opposite the EO table, is “Blacks & Whites”.

In an 1877 catalogue of the British MuseumG[p. 1076] this is interpreted as a reference to the (in)famous White’s gentlemen’s club and gambling house, but it seems to more straightforwardly refer to the game, especially when positioned in a pair with E–O.

References

  1. Anonymous (). ‘⁨⁩’. Western Times⁩, : page 3.

  2. Anonymous (). ‘⁨⁩’. Liverpool Courier and Commercial Advertiser⁩, : page 6.

  3. Anonymous (). ‘⁨⁩’. Morning Chronicle⁩, : page 3. London.

  4. Anonymous (). ‘⁨⁩’. Eastbourne Gazette⁩, : page 4.

  5. Anonymous (). ‘⁨⁩’. Star⁩, : page 4. London.

  6. (publisher) (). ⁨⁩. E. Morris⁩: London.

  7. (). ⁨⁩ volume 3 (part 2): ‘⁨1751 to circa 1760⁩’.