I scooped this up for the lovely box alone, but having learned some about the game of Bell and Hammer since, I'm pleased to report the contents are complete (excepting game chips/counters, which could be pennies or poker chips or I happen to have a box of bone tokens available in the shop here.)
Bell and Hammer (also known as Whitehorse, and Glocke und Hammer or Schimmel in German) is a dice throwing game that was quite popular in Europe in the 19th and early 20th centuries. To summarize, an initial throw of the dice (which are distinctive, a set of six with just one numbered side on each, plus two showing a bell and hammer in turn) determines the "auctioneer," who then auctions off the five different cards to the other players, who subsequently accumulate counters based on rolls of the dice in relation to the cards they own. Here is a link to instructions for playing, and there is lots more out there about the intricacies of the game. How to argue with a game that involves an auctioneer and gavel and strange dice and beautiful early lithographed cards??! This is an early German set, mid 19th century I believe.
Box: 6 1/8 x 4 1/2 x 2 7/16” . One loss to the Schimmel (White Horse) card and some graphite writing at top left of the Hammer card, which I can't quite decipher. Otherwise very good condition, with box in great shape, slide lid closing tight and flush.
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