A Sociable Snake, Real False Moustaches, Card-Cheating Rings, and Pearletta Pictures

Here are four more random little Victorian ads.

To start us off: is it a board game, a euphemism for something risque, or both? You be the judge.

JUST PUBLISHED, A new edition of the interesting and amusing game of THE SOCIABLE SNAKE, and for sale, wholesale and retail, at R.P. ELLIOT'S News Depot, 52 Division st.
--New York Clipper, August 1854

This next item is for people who need a little extra help cheating at cards. It's good, it's new, and it might be obvious to the person sitting next to you what you are doing:

THE REFLECT FINGER RING for advantage card players; good; new. Price by mail, $1. W. Carpenter, 77 Nassau street, N.Y.
--New York Clipper, August 1870

And this ad is for people who do not want those dreadful fake false mustaches that you see everywhere these days:

GENUINE FALSE MOUSTACHES, 75c each; extra fine, $1; on wire, 50c. Address B. Fox, "Station A," New York City.
--New York Clipper, August 1870

The last ad turned out to be the starting point of such a fascinating trip that I'm going to write a separate post about S.L. [Sarah] Hardinge. She was a painter, photographer and inventor. Next week, I'll tell you about her amazing and peripatetic life.

HARDINGE'S PATENT PEARLETTA PICTURES

Sole proprietor for the City and County of Brooklyn. By being submitted to this new process any plain photograph can be converted into a beautiful and life-like picture. The Medallion and Portrait Pearlettas are attracting much attention. For full particulars and specimens at Studio, 216 Fulton ave, near the junction of Flatbush ave. Artists, S.L. HARDINGE and A.D. VAIL.

--Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Mar. 1, 1870

Slightly incongruous, later-than-Victorian cigarette card image (probably 1920-30s vintage) from NYPL Digital Gallery.