A Gambler’s gift to Art – By George H. Kennedy Jr. in The Billings Gazette (Billings Montana), New York A huge newspaper article in The Billings Gazette from 1933 was about the friendship between Canfield and James McNeill Whistler, a very famous artist at the time. Here, George Kennedy Jr. refers to the Canfield Solitaire … Read more
Former Gambler Proves Sucker hasn’t Chance by Dale BurgessThe Muncie Evening Press was published in Muncie, Indiana, Monday, June 20, 1932 It’s the first time I’ve come across any evidence that Klondike Solitaire was also played in gambling houses. There were of course many indications in books, but never as concrete as to how it … Read more
The life and works of Richard A. Canfield – Familiar of Millionaires and Patron of the arts as well as a gamester A large newspaper article devoted to Richard Canfield following the publication of Alexander Gardiner’s Book “Canfield: The True Story of the Greatest Gambler,” where Canfield Solitaire is discussed. Although Alexander Gardiner wrote only … Read more
Canfield: The True Story of the Greatest Gambler by Alexander Gardiner One of the most comprehensive books I’ve come across on Canfield. An autobiography about the life of the “Prince of Gamblers” with a vast amount of intricate details. For example, he cites the exact amounts Canfield accepted as bets, the layouts, and the games … Read more
Fun with Cards, Solitaires, Tricks and Fortunes, 1927, [New York] George Sully and Company In Dean Bryden’s book “Fun with Cards, Solitaires, Tricks, and Fortunes” you can find 30 different types of Solitaire. The Demon, (4 card tableau + reserve), explained on page 77 includes a very detailed example play of the Demon, move by … Read more
Phantoms of past still haunt Spa – Modern Saratoga recalls days when Canfield entertained millionaires at a garden spot Historic newspaper article about the Canfield Casino published by Fitchburg Sentinel (Fitchburg, Massachusetts). It is suggested in this article that Solitaire would have been played at the Saratoga Club. “It was here in the same old … Read more
Auction for Two or Three – With a new code of laws for these games – Milton C Work – 1921 The claim that Solitaire is only a single-player game is not correct. This is made clear in the book “Auction for Two or Three – With a new code of laws for these games.” … Read more
Newspaper Article about Canfield’s death Although the article is about his sudden death, a large part of the article is also devoted to Canfield’s Solitaire. The article gives a clear picture of the fame of the Solitaire game which is said to have been invented by Canfield or was named after him. For example, in … Read more
Richard Canfield’s death This article about Richard Canfield’s death on December 12, 1914, contains much information about his life as a gambler. However, there is no mention of a Solitaire game named after him. It is clear from the article that Canfield was a great gambler:
Foster’s Complete Hoyle; An encyclopedia of games, including all the indoor games played at the present day (Revised and Enlarged) by R.F. Foster 1914 R.F Foster’s third edition of “Foster’s complete Hoyle; an encyclopedia of games, including all the indoor games played at the present day” was published in 1914, the year of Canfield’s death. … Read more