The Compleat Gamester

The Compleat Gamester, first published in 1674, is one of the earliest known English-language games compendia.

It was published anonymously, but later attributed to Charles Cotton (1630–1687).

Initially these were translations of French books, for example on piquet, but later more original publications appeared.

The most successful of these was The Compleat Gamester, which was first published anonymously in 1674, but was attributed during the 18th century to Charles Cotton.

[1][a] The 1674 edition included instructions on how to play "all manner of usual and most gentile games either on cards or dice," as well as "the arts and mysteries" of riding, racing, archery and cock-fighting.