Primo visto, ''Primavista'', ''Prima-vista'', ''Primi-vist'', ''Primiuiste'', ''Primofistula'', or even ''Primefisto'', is a 16th-century

gambling Gambling (also known as betting or gaming) is the wagering of something of value ("the stakes") on a random event with the intent of winning something else of value, where instances of strategy are discounted. Gambling thus requires three el ...

card game fashionable c. 1530–1640. Very little is known about this game, but judging by the etymology of the words used to describe the many local variants of the game, it appears to be one of Italian origin.

Historical claims

Based upon references in period literature it appears to be closely related to the game of

Primero Primero (in English also called Primus, ', or in Italian '' or Spanish ''Primera'')'', is a 16th-century gambling card game of which the earliest reference dates back to 1526. Primero is closely related to the game of primo visto (a.k.a. prima-vi ...

, with some later authorities claiming that the two games were in fact the very same. Opposing claims to this theory include the fact that the earliest known reference to the name Primo visto appears in Greene's "Notable Discovery of Coosnage" published in 1591, more than half a century after the name Primero was in common use.

John Minsheu John Minsheu (or Minshew) (1560–1627) was an English linguist and lexicographer. Biography He was born and died in London. Little is known about his life. He published some of the earliest dictionaries and grammars of the Spanish language for ...

, an English linguist and lexicographer, claims that Primero and Prima vista (hence Primo visto) were two distinct card games - "That is, first and first seen, because he that can shew such an order of cardes first winnes the game", although he gives but one set of names and just one reason for their namesA Glossary: or, Collection of words, phrases, names, etc. v. II pg. 687, Robert Nares, James Orchard Halliwell-Phillipps, London 1859

Robert Nares Robert Nares (9 June 1753, York – 23 March 1829) was an English clergyman, philologist and author. Life He was born at York in 1753, the son of James Nares (1715–1783), organist of York Minster and educated at Westminster School and Ch ...

in his book "A Glossary" states that the circumstance of the cards being counted in the same way, with the "Six" reckoned for eighteen and the "Seven" for twenty-one, seems to determine that Primo visto was the same as Primero, or even possibly a later variation of the latter. Slightly stronger evidence exists in the form of a list of popular board and card games and diversions of the time of the

English Renaissance The English Renaissance was a Cultural movement, cultural and Art movement, artistic movement in England from the early 16th century to the early 17th century. It is associated with the pan-European Renaissance that is usually regarded as beginni ...

in John Taylor's 1621 book "Taylor's Motto", listing both Primero and Primefisto, and the same occurs in a list of card games in

Richard Brome Richard Brome ; (c. 1590? – 24 September 1652) was an English dramatist of the Caroline era. Life Virtually nothing is known about Brome's private life. Repeated allusions in contemporary works, like Ben Jonson's ''Bartholomew Fair'', ind ...

's "The New Academy".

Variants

A brief poem by the French Humanist

Mellin de Saint-Gelais Mellin de Saint-Gelais (or ''Melin de Saint-Gelays'' or ''Sainct-Gelais''; c. 1491 – October, 1558) was a French poet of the Renaissance and Poet Laureate of Francis I of France. Life He was born at Angoulême, most likely the natural ...

written in 1525 describes

Francis I of France Francis I (french: François Ier; frm, Francoys; 12 September 1494 – 31 March 1547) was King of France from 1515 until his death in 1547. He was the son of Charles, Count of Angoulême, and Louise of Savoy. He succeeded his first cousin once ...

Pope Clement VII Pope Clement VII ( la, Clemens VII; it, Clemente VII; born Giulio de' Medici; 26 May 1478 – 25 September 1534) was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 19 November 1523 to his death on 25 September 1534. Deemed "the ...

and

Emperor Charles V Charles V, french: Charles Quint, it, Carlo V, nl, Karel V, ca, Carles V, la, Carolus V (24 February 1500 – 21 September 1558) was Holy Roman Emperor and Archduke of Austria from 1519 to 1556, King of Spain ( Castile and Aragon) ...

(the combatants in the

Italian War of 1521–1526 The Italian War of 1521–1526, sometimes known as the Four Years' War, (french: Sixième guerre d'Italie) was a part of the Italian Wars. The war pitted Francis I of France and the Republic of Venice against the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V ...

, a struggle for the possession of Italy) playing a hand of "Prime" (a game similar to Primero and to the "Flux").Oeuvres complètes de Melin de Sainct-Gelays, Paris, Bibliothèque Elzévirienne, 1873, vol. I, pp. 251–252
PASQUIN ''Le Roy, le Pape et le Prince Germain
'' ''jouent un jeu de prime assez jolie:
'' ''Parme est leur vade, et l'envy l'Italie:
'' ''et le Roy tient le grand poinct en sa main:
'' ''cinquante et un a le pasteur Rommain,
'' ''qui se tormente et se melancolie:
'' ''Cesar attend avec face palie,
'' ''deniers voudroit pour son jeu racoustrer.
'' ''Tandis le Pape un accord leur propose.
'' ''Cesar y pense et voir sa carte n'ose;
'' ''il craint espee ou bastons rencontrer.
'' ''Le Roy lui dit: "Deniers n'attendez point,
'' ''car c'est mon jeu; vez en la le grand poinct,"
'' ''Ils en sont en ce poinct.
'' ''Or lon verra des deux le plus prospere.
'' ''Quoy que ce soit, la perte est au sainct Pere.
'' ''Cesar craint et espere,
'' ''leur descouvrant ses cartes peu a peu;
'' ''car moins peut l'art que le sort en ce jeu.'' That seems to indicate that the game of Primo visto, and consequently Primero, is probably older than many historians have been able to determine and may date to the beginning of the 16th century or even further back in time. A comparison to the terms used in the game of Primero, the mode of playing and the outcome, indicates that Primo visto was played according to the rules of Primero. It is possible, however, that it was played with only three cards dealt to each player instead of four, followed by a few rounds of bettings. Another possible difference may lie in the amount staked to the pool. The main part of the game was one of bluff and vies among the players, which also suggests that Primo visto was a simple variant, like the French game of "Prime".

References

External links

A glossary: or, Collection of words, phrases, names, and llusions to customs, proverbs, &c.
{{Historical card games Comparing card games

Historical claims

Variants

See also

References

External links