The late 1800’s Game of Bull by J.H. Singer demonstrates a changing time of games. Those of earlier age, like the Mansion of Happiness or the Checkered Game of Life, focused on moral values and provided lessons to life. These types of games gave way to other, more casual, and …
Portraying the form of books when closed and out of their slipcase, the three board games of Life’s Mishaps, Domino Rex, and Diamond Hearts, discreetly sat on a shelf waiting to be pulled down for a night of entertainment. The board of Life’s Mishaps is featured fully on the outside …
Collecting games, whether they are old board, card, or other types of games, often provide the collector with an amazing glance at historical times. The Mayflower card game is an exceptional example of just how a game can offer such a unique look. It is a treasure. The game consists …
The fascinating old card game called White Squadron by the Fireside Game Co. depicts 52 war vessels of the United States Navy on its cards. Browsing through the deck offers interesting details about these warships which protected our nation. Some of them, like the USS Olympia, are museum ships today. …
Mcloughlin Brothers of New York published the enchanting card game named Cock Robin in the 1860’s, 1875, and another version in 1885. The oldest one of the 1860’s features hand painted cards and cover (shown right (cards below)). The game follows most of the words of the Cock Robin nursery …
The antique Game of Leap Frog by McLoughlin Bros. was published in the mid and late 1800’s and early 1900’s. The game box shown depicts three boys, dressed to the age, playing an outdoor game of Leap Frog. This jumping and fun activity is brought to the game board. It …
Collecting games and researching their history provides an adventure off board. The 1870 McLoughlin Bros. game of Tight Rope is such an example. The images and story for the game not only include the most famous tight rope walker of the time, Blondin, but a hidden deeper layer of meaning …
The three bookshelf games, Captive Princess, Tournament, and Pathfinders, published by McLoughlin Brothers. in 1875, are designed and formed to mimic books when folded. McLoughlin Bros. made many of these triple style game books during the late-mid to late 1800’s. The instructions and pieces for the games were usually housed …
The Good Old Game of Proverbs, published by Parker Brothers in 1893, demonstrates the simplicity of ‘party games’ of the time, and offers a wonderful glimpse into past pleasures. The game consists of merely 96 small cards (1”x2”), each with a Proverb written upon it. Instructions for various methods of …
Published in 1891, along with the game of Seven Sleepers, the 24 Puzzle challenges a player to find a way to move 8 pawns from one side of an 8×8 checkered board to the other side. This must be done in 24 single or multiple moves. My favorite sentence within …
