Something for Nothing – The Lore and Lure of Gamblingby Clyde Brion Davis – 1956 (Philadelphia, New York) In his book “Something for Nothing – The Lore and Lure of Gambling,” writer Clyde Brion Davis describes gambling throughout the years in America. In his chapter, Minor Games, he writes about side games and refers to … Read more
Topics of the Times published in The New York Times – Friday, November 25, 1955 A 1955 New York Times article on Solitaire provides some unique insights about Solitaire from the era. Richard Canfield is said to have never played the game. “Canfield was named for Dick Canfield who operated casinos in New York Saratoga. … Read more
Fabulous Bawd – The Story of Saratoga by Mel Heimer published by the Henry Holt and Company, New York 1952 A book by Mel Heimer about the history of Saratoga with many anecdotes about important figures who formed the basis of Saratoga’s fame. Of course, both John Morrisey and Richard Canfield are discussed. About Canfield … Read more
The Complete Book of Solitaire and Patience Games: The Most Comprehensive Book of Its Kind. Over 225 Games Albert Morehead (1909 – 1966) was a journalist for The New York Times and writer of several books on card games. His passion was Bridge but he also wrote, together with Geoffrey Mott-Smith, a very important book … Read more
The Complete Book of Games by Cement Wood and Gloria Goddard (copyright 1938) In The Complete Book of Games, Cement Wood and Gloria Goddard are claiming that both “Canfield (Solitaire)” and “Klondike” were gambling games and that Richard Canfield “invented” the Solitaire now still carrying his name. About Klondike “Klondike also called CanfieldThis is the … Read more
Such was Saratoga by Hugh Bradley – New York 1940 Such was Saratoga by Hugh Bradley is a book about the history of Saratoga with a lot of attention to the colorful gambling history of Saratoga. The book is very detailed where both John Morrisey and Canfield are discussed. About Canfield and Solitaire the following … Read more
Sucker’s Progress: an informal history of gambling in America from the colonies to Canfield By Herbert Asbury, (1938, New York / Dodd, Mead & Co.) Sucker’s Progress: an informal History of Gambling in America from the colonies to Canfield is a fantastic book full of stories and proper historical research. It can be no surprise … Read more
Goodbye to SaratogaQuiet Springs Turned Into Gambling Hell-or-Paradise by two men, by John Lardner “$50 for Solitaire Deck – Ironically, Canfield’s name is best known to the rank and file today for a game of Solitaire. You could always play that game in Canfield’s house. Although Solitaire was a by-product. As Banked by the old … Read more
YOU CAN’T WIN, by Frank Emery – ARTICLE I In 1934, Frank Emery released a six-part series on gambling titled You Can’t Win, a Series of articles on Gambling from Faro to Bridge. The articles were published weekly in The Brooklyn Daily, each week containing a different topic in which Canfield was the main subject. … Read more
Unbeatable Odds -Chattanooga Daily Times (Chattanooga, Tennessee) Friday 10 August 1934 An old newspaper article states that Canfield invented the Solitaire game played in his gambling house. I do not consider this source to be necessarily reliable as there are some inaccuracies in the article and it seems more likely that the author copied this … Read more