The Checkered Game of Life
Classification:
Date:
1866
Medium:
Cardboard, wood, paper, bone
Dimensions:
Open (board): 13 1/4 × 13 1/2 in. (33.7 × 34.3 cm)
Description:
"The Checkered Game of Life" board game with two paper covered cardboard gameboards and box to hold the playing pieces; boards chromolithographed with red and peach checkerboard paths from "Infancy" to "Happy Old Age"; reverse of boards printed, "THE/ Checkered/ GAME/ OF/ LIFE. PUBLISHED BY/ MILTON BRADLEY & CO./ SPRINGFIELD, MASS."; box cover lithographed with the inscription"THE/ CHECKERED GAME/ OF/ LIFE."; playing pieces include a paper instruction sheet, a wooden and cardboard teetotem and four bone playing pieces.
Credit Line:
The Liman Collection
Object Number:
2000.496a
Marks:
lithographed: on the reverse of the board: "THE/ Checkered/ GAME/ OF/ LIFE. PUBLISHED BY/ MILTON BRADLEY & CO./ SPRINGFIELD, MASS."
lithographed: on the box cover: "THE/ CHECKERED GAME/ OF/ LIFE."
Gallery Label:
The marriage of spiritual values and worldly achievement first appeared in Milton Bradley's inaugural game, The Checkered Game of Life. As in the Mansion of Happiness, the game taught lessons of success achieved through virtuous living. However, Bradley's game also secularized the notion of virtuous living by rewarding material accomplishments. To celebrate the centennial of the game in 1960, Milton Bradley issued The Game of Life, which traced the steps from high school graduation to retire.
Bibliography:
Hofer, Margaret K. "The Games We Played: The Golden Age of Board & Table Games." New York: Princeton Architectural Press, 2003.
Date Begin:
0
Date End:
1866
eMuseum Object ID:
44116
Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.
The Letter Carrier
Classification:
Date:
ca. 1890
Medium:
Cardboard, paper, wood
Dimensions:
Overall: 7/8 x 8 1/2 x 14 1/2 in. ( 2.2 x 21.6 x 36.8 cm )
Description:
"The Letter Carrier" board game with 104 cardboard letters, a cardboard spinner with a metal arrow, four wooden playing pieces and a paper board applied to the bottom half of the cardboard box; board chromolithographed with a grid of named streets, blocks filled with buildings, each numbered and a post office in the center; box cover chromolithographed with an image of a postal carrier handing a letter to a woman in a doorway; box cover lithographed with the inscription, "THE/ Letter/ Carrier/ McLOUGHLIN BROS., NEW YORK".
Credit Line:
The Liman Collection
Object Number:
2000.339
Marks:
lithographed: on the box cover: "THE/ Letter/ Carrier/ McLOUGHLIN BROS., NEW YORK".
Date Begin:
0
Date End:
1890
eMuseum Object ID:
44114
Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.
Game of District Messenger Boy
Classification:
Date:
1886
Medium:
Cardboard, paper, wood, metal
Dimensions:
Overall: 1 x 8 1/2 x 14 1/2 in. ( 2.5 x 21.6 x 36.8 cm )
Description:
Game of District Messenger Boy" board game consisting of board, cardboard spinner with a metal arrow and four wooden playing pieces in a paper covered wood and cardboard box with cover illustration of a boy in a blue uniform and cap running while carrying a letter in his right hand; box cover inscribed, "Game/ of/ DISTRICT/ MESSENGER/ BOY/ Copyrighted 1886 by/ McLOUGHLIN BROS. N. Y."; board is a grid of green squares, with almost every box marked with description or instruction, such as "Advance to BOX INSPECTOR," with illustrations in the upper corners and the directions printed across the bottom.
Credit Line:
The Liman Collection
Object Number:
2000.721
Marks:
lithographed: on the box cover: "Game/ of/ DISTRICT/ MESSENGER/ BOY/ Copyrighted 1886 by/ McLOUGHLIN BROS. N. Y."
Date Begin:
0
Date End:
1886
eMuseum Object ID:
44113
Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.
The Game of District Messenger Boy
Classification:
Date:
ca. 1888
Medium:
Cardoard, paper, wood, metal
Dimensions:
Overall: 1 x 16 5/8 x 16 3/4 in. ( 2.5 x 42.2 x 42.5 cm )
Description:
"Game of District Messenger Boy" board game consisting of board and four wooden playing pieces, in a paper covered wood and cardboard box with cover illustration of three boys in blue uniforms and caps riding bicycles; box cover inscribed, "THE GAME OF/ DISTRICT MESSENGER BOY/ 5231/ McLOUGHLIN BROS./ INCORPORATED/ NEW YORK"; board is in the form of a maze, with almost every box marked with description or instruction, such as "Advance to BOX INSPECTOR," with illustrations of stock tickers at each corner and the directions printed across the bottom.
Credit Line:
The Liman Collection
Object Number:
2000.345
Marks:
lithographed: on the box cover: "THE GAME OF/ DISTRICT MESSENGER BOY/ 5231/ McLOUGHLIN BROS./ INCORPORATED/ NEW YORK"
Bibliography:
Hofer, Margaret K. "The Games We Played: The Golden Age of Board & Table Games." New York: Princeton Architectural Press, 2003.
Date Begin:
0
Date End:
1888
eMuseum Object ID:
44112
Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.
Game of the Telegraph Boy
Classification:
Date:
ca. 1888
Medium:
Cardoard, paper, wood, metal
Dimensions:
Overall: 1 x 16 1/2 x 18 5/8 in. ( 2.5 x 41.9 x 47.3 cm )
Description:
"Game of the Telegraph Boy" board game with a paper covered cardboard board inserted into a paper covered cardboard box with cover illustrations of boy in blue uniform and cap on a bicycle; box cover inscribed, "GAME OF THE/ TELEGRAPH BOY/ McLOUGHLIN BROTHERS NEW YORK"; board in the form of a octagon maze, with some boxes marked with description or instruction, such as "Advance to BOX INSPECTOR," with illustration at each corner and spinner (missing arrow) at lower right corner.
Credit Line:
The Liman Collection
Object Number:
2000.342
Marks:
lithographed: on the box cover: "GAME OF THE/ TELEGRAPH BOY/ McLOUGHLIN BROTHERS NEW YORK"
Date Begin:
0
Date End:
1888
eMuseum Object ID:
44111
Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.
Ferrilude or Game of Beasts
Classification:
Date:
1873
Medium:
Cardboard, paper
Dimensions:
Overall: 4 x 2 7/8 x 1 1/8 in. ( 10.2 x 7.3 x 2.9 cm )
Description:
"Ferrilude or Game of Beasts" card game with 63 playing cards, each printed with information about a single or group of animals in a paper covered cardboard box; box cover printed with a group of animals playing cards including a kangaroo, a lion, a bear and a monkey; box cover inscribed, "FERRILUDE/ OR/ Game of Beasts/ WEST & LEE GAME COMPANY, WORCESTER, MASS./ Patented Sept. 2, 1873 Price Fifty Cents."
Credit Line:
The Liman Collection
Object Number:
2000.501
Marks:
printed: on the box cover: "FERRILUDE/ OR/ Game of Beasts/ WEST & LEE GAME COMPANY, WORCESTER, MASS./ Patented Sept. 2, 1873 Price Fifty Cents."
Date Begin:
0
Date End:
1873
eMuseum Object ID:
44110
Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.
Transparent Slate
Classification:
Date:
1873
Medium:
Wood, glass, paper
Dimensions:
Overall: 1/2 x 4 x 3 1/4 in. ( 1.3 x 10.2 x 8.3 cm )
Description:
"Transparent slate" drawing slate with a wood frame and a glass top; print of "Whiting and his Cat" inside the slate.
Credit Line:
The Liman Collection
Object Number:
2000.461
Marks:
printed: on the interior print: "WHITING/ AND HIS CAT/ 4 XPLANATION/ C/ OTHER SIDE/ By S. Lloyd, author of Pony Puzzle, Trick Mules, etc., Box 98, Elizabeth, N. J./ Entered according to Act of Congress, the the year 1873, with the Librarian of Congress."
Date Begin:
0
Date End:
1873
eMuseum Object ID:
44109
Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.
The T. A. Snider Diamond Puzzle
Classification:
Date:
ca. 1890
Medium:
Cardboard, paper
Dimensions:
Box: 1/4 x 4 x 2 1/2 in. ( 0.6 x 10.2 x 6.4 cm )
Overall (puzzle completed): 6 7/8 x 6 3/4 in. (17.5 x 17.1 cm)
Description:
"The T. A. Snider Diamond Puzzle" advertising puzzle with ten pieces in a trapezoidal cardboard box; each chromolithographed puzzle piece has an advertisement for a Snider product including soup, catsup, and chili sauce; box cover printed, "THE/ T. A. SNIDER/ DIAMOND/ PUZZLE/ CINCINNATI, O./ DIRECTIONS./ Place the enclosed ten/ cards, printed side/ up, so as to form/ a perfect/ square./ On receipt of Ten Cents/ a duplicate of this puzzle will be/ sent post paid to any address./ THE T. A. SNIDER/ PRESERVE CO./ Cincinatti, O./ USA".
Credit Line:
The Liman Collection
Object Number:
2000.707
Marks:
lithographed: on the box cover: "THE/ T. A. SNIDER/ DIAMOND/ PUZZLE/ CINCINNATI, O./ DIRECTIONS./ Place the enclosed ten/ cards, printed side/ up, so as to form/ a perfect/ square./ On receipt of Ten Cents/ a duplicate of this puzzle will be/ sent post pa
Date Begin:
0
Date End:
1890
eMuseum Object ID:
44108
Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.
Magic Dots for Little Tots
Classification:
Date:
1907
Medium:
Cardboard, paper
Dimensions:
Overall: 7/8 x 4 1/2 x 6 1/2 in. ( 2.2 x 11.4 x 16.5 cm )
Description:
"Magic Dots for Little Tots" table game with 9 geometric and floral perforated templates, 315 multicolored cardboard dots to place in each template and an instruction booklet in a paper covered cardboard box; box cover chromolithographed with a girl with pink bows in her hair playing with her magic dot set; box cover inscribed, "MAGIC/ DOTS/ for/ LITTLE/ TOTS/ 4482/ MILTON BRADLEY CO. SPRINGFIELD, MASS. PATENTED DEC. 17-1907."
Credit Line:
The Liman Collection
Object Number:
2000.315
Marks:
lithographed: on the box cover: "MAGIC/ DOTS/ for/ LITTLE/ TOTS/ 4482/ MILTON BRADLEY CO. SPRINGFIELD, MASS. PATENTED DEC. 17-1907."
Date Begin:
0
Date End:
1907
eMuseum Object ID:
44107
Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.
Gems of Art
Classification:
Date:
1880
Medium:
Cardboard, paper
Dimensions:
Overall: 7/8 x 6 1/4 x 4 3/4 in. ( 2.2 x 15.9 x 12.1 cm )
Description:
"Gems of Art" card game with 48 playing cards and an instruction booklet in a paper covered cardboard box; box cover chromolithographed with an image of a statue of Diana and the faun; box cover inscribed, "GEMS OF ART/ A NEW INSTRUCTIVE/ AND/ ENTERTAINING GAME/ FIVE ENTIRELY NEW/ GAMES CAN BE/ PLAYED WITH THESE CARDS/ PUBLISHED BY/ SELCHOW & RIGHTER, N.Y./ COPYRIGHT 1880 BY C. G. HARGER. JR."
Credit Line:
The Liman Collection
Object Number:
2000.402
Marks:
lithographed: on the box cover: "GEMS OF ART/ A NEW INSTRUCTIVE/ AND/ ENTERTAINING GAME/ FIVE ENTIRELY NEW/ GAMES CAN BE/ PLAYED WITH THESE CARDS/ PUBLISHED BY/ SELCHOW & RIGHTER, N.Y./ COPYRIGHT 1880 BY C. G. HARGER. JR."
Bibliography:
Hofer, Margaret K. "The Games We Played: The Golden Age of Board & Table Games." New York: Princeton Architectural Press, 2003.
Date Begin:
0
Date End:
1880
eMuseum Object ID:
44106
Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.
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