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SPORTS AND PASTIMES OF ALL NATIONS
#17 - ASSYRIA

Size: 3" x 5"
Copyrighted: 1893
Lithographer: Kaufmann & Strauss

Assyria - chariot racing, archery, tug-of-war, leap-frog

"COPYRIGHT" Text Variations
There are two varieties (that I know of) in the "COPYRIGHT" text which appears on this card, as shown below. In both cases, the text appears in the lower left corner of the card.

Text reads: "PAINTING COPYRIGHTED 1893 ARBUCKLE BROS." and is 27mm long. (This is the variety shown on the full-size card, above).

Text reads: "PAINTING COPYRIGHTED 1893 ARBUCKLE BROS." and is 30mm long.
(For an overview of the copyright variations in Sports & Pastimes, click here.)

Reverse - Text
Left section: GRIND YOUR COFFEE AT HOME
Right section:
ASSYRIA.
ALTHOUGH the early history of Assyria is obscure, the artistic genius and wonderful ingenuity of this people, developed a civilization second to no contemporary one. In architecture and as sculptors, engravers and designers they were especially pre-eminent. The ancient cities of Nineveh and Babylon also attest the luxury to which the wealthy of this people became accustomed To acquire and maintain such supremacy, the Assyrians must have been a brave and warlike people. They were endowed with many other virtues distinctive of a noble nation.
The chariot was both a vehicle of war and of hunting. It led the van of battle and through its aid only it became possible to follow the larger game of the Assyrian forests. The dextrous hand of the charioteer guided the noble steeds, and the unerring aim of the warrior or huntsman laid low the quarry which he pursued.
The Tug-of-War, so popular in our athletic games to-day, was often practised by the Assyrians. The opposing sides, evenly matched, took equal hold of the rope of contention, and the side which gained a length on the other and retained it, was pronounced the winner.
The bow and arrow was the especial weapon of the Assyrian soldier. These were no holiday playthings, but the bow was often nearly of the stature of the man who wielded it. Formidable indeed was the arrow which sped from the bow of one of these doughty warriors.
Leap-frog, still so popular to-day, was one of the primitive games Assyrian children indulged in.

NOTE: To see non-Arbuckle usage of this supposedly copyrighted Arbuckle illustration,
click here.