Giochi dell'Oca e di percorso (by Luigi Ciompi & Adrian Seville)

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Science in Sport or the Pleasures of Astronomy
A New&Instructive Pastime, Revised and Approved by Mrs. Bryan, Blackheath.

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	primo autore:	Anonimo
	secondo autore:	Wallis
	anno:	1804/15
	luogo:	Inghilterra-Londra
	periodo:	XIX secolo (1°/4)
	percorso:	Percorso di 35 caselle numerate
	materiale:	carta incollata su tela (engraving on paper with linen backing)
	dimensioni:	472X573
	stampa:	Litografia colorata (hand coloured engraving)
	luogo acquisto:
	data acquisto:
	dimensioni confezione:
	numero caselle:	35
	categoria:	Scienze naturali ed applicate
	tipo di gioco:	Gioco di percorso
	editore:	Published December 17th, 1804 by the Proprietor, John Wallis, No 16 Ludgate Street
	stampatore:	Printed by Edward Wallis 42 Skinner Street, Snow Hill, London
	proprietario:	Collezione A. Seville
	autore delle foto:	A. Seville
	numero di catalogo:	1384
	descrizione:	Gioco di 35 caselle numerate, ottagonale, orario, centripeto. Al centro Flamstead House. Nonostante l'insegnamento delle Scienze nel XIX secolo non fosse trascurato, esistono meno esempi di giochi dedicati a questo settore rispetto a quelli per la geografia e la storia. Questo elegante esemplare riporta al centro l'illustrazione dell'osservatorio di Greenwich che diede il nome al primo meridiano. Intorno troviamo ritratti di Tolomeo, Tycho Brahe, Copernico e Newton. Il gioco venne rivisto dalla signora Bryan di Blackheath che gestiva a Londra una scuola per l'insegnamento delle scienze alle ragazze. Il fatto che non facesse sconti a nessuna delle allieve è dimostrato dal regolamento: - Casella 6, la prigione della Contea questo è il posto riservato a coloro che prestano più attenzione al movimento delle palle da biliardo che a quello dei pianeti. Non importa quanto sia grave il tuo caso, resta fermo fino a quando qualcuno prenderà il tuo posto. - Casella 15, "L'uomo nella Luna" : è opinione ridicola di alcune persone ignoranti che ci sia un uomo sulla luna, con un cane e un fascio di legna che ne mangia vari pezzi causandone la forma irregolare e che questa tuttavia si rigeneri ogni mese. Imparate la lezione e tornate alla casella 13 (le fasi della Luna) per leggerne la descrizione. REGOLE: al centro a destra. CASELLE: mute. REFERENZA 1 "Science in Sport or the Pleasures of Astronomy". (V&A Museum). This 1815 board game is a reissue of a race game first published by John Wallis in 1804. The 35 playing spaces have portraits of astronomers and representations of astronomical phenomena. In addition to facts about the nine known planets and thier orbits, the game also features fiction (the Man in the Moon) , behaviour (the Studious Boy and the Blockhead), signs of the Zodiac, comets and rainbows. Physical description Design: engraving, coloured by hand, 15 sections mounted on linen; numbered in a clockwise direction from the lower right hand corner. N°of squares: 35 Squares illustrated: all Square numbering: all Squares titled: all in booklet Subject of starting square: The Sun Subject of ending square: Flamstead House, Grand Observatory Place of Origin: London Date: ca. 1815 Artist/maker: Wallis, Edward Materials and Techniques: Hand-coloured engraving, mounted on linen Dimensions: Length: 47.2 cm; width: 57.3 cm Object history note: re-issue of the game first published by John Wallis in 1804 Historical context note Rewards: extra turns and forward movement Forfeits: missing turns, backward movement and the reciting of details from the booklet as listed N°of Players: any Equipment required: teetotum, markers (pyramids) and four matching coloured counters each Rules: SCIENCE IN SPORT OR THE PLEASURES OF ASTRONOMY A NEW GAME REVISED AND APPROVED BY MRS. BRYAN BLACKHEATH, LONDON PRINTED FOR E WALLIS 42 SKINNER STREET, SNOW HILL BY T DAVIS 117 MINORIES. Booklet lists each medallion and indicates addition rules to playing the game which are not accounted for on the playing sheet. These are mainly missing turns or reciting information. THE LAWS OF THE GAME 1. Each player must have a pyramid and four counters of the same colour. 2. The first player is to be determined by spinning the teetotum; the highest spinner to be the first player etc. 3. The first player must road the introduction aloud before he begins to play. 4. The first player is to spin and according to the number turned up on the teetotum, he is to place his pyramid: thus if he turns up 3, he is to place his pyramid at No. 3. 5. After the first player has spun, the rest are to spin in the order determined by Law 2. 6. The number turned up at each spinning is to be added on to that on which the players pyramid stands: thus if a player whose pyramid stands on No. 3, spins and the teetotum turns up 4, he must place his pyramid at No. 7 and so on till some one arrives at 35, who wins the game. 7. If the last spin does not exactly make up 35, but goes beyond it, the player is to go back as many as he exceeds that number and try his fortune again till some one arrives at the lucky number. 8. When a player is to stop one or more turns, he must place as many counters as he is to stop turns on the number he arrives at and when his turn of spinning comes he is to take up a counter instead of spinning and so on until they are all redeemed, when he may proceed. Introductory Observations are engraved on the playing sheet. *First published by John Wallis in 1804 and reissued by Edward Wallis. The 35 squares have portraits of astronomers and representations of astronomical phenomena. At the time, nine planets and their movements around the sun were known. Intermingled with facts are compartments dealing with fiction (the Man in the Moon) , behavior (the Studious Boy and the Blockhead), signs of the Zodiac, comets and rainbows, and astronomers. Rules placement: on the playing sheet and in booklet printed by T Davis 117 Minories Descriptive line: Hand coloured astronomical race game, Science in Sport, published in England by Edward Wallis about 1815. REFERENZA 2 WHITEHOUSE, Francis Reginald Beaman, (pag. 35): PLEASURES OF ASTRONOMY (Science in Sport or the). A new & Instructive Pastime, Revised and approved by Mrs. Bryan, Blackheath. Published December 17th, 1804 by the Proprietor, John Wallis, No 16 Ludgate Street, London, of whom may be had Science in Sport or the Pleasures of NATURAL PIHLOSOPHY, an Entertaining Game. (Note the spelling mistake.) An engraving size 22 ½ in X 17 ¼ in. The author has two copies of this game: (a) Uncoloured and mounted in 9 sections on linen. (b) Hand-coloured and in 15 sections contained in slip-in case with gilt title "WALLIS'S GAME ASTRONOMY”. The book of rules printed by Biggs & Co., Crane Street, Fleet Street, 1805. The 35 pictures are described and penalties imposed, among them No 6 “The County Gaol-this is the place for those who attend to the motions of Billiard Balls more than to the motions of the planets". The centre portion of the engraved sheet shows in five circles "FLAMSTEAD HOUSE", COPERNICUS, TYCHO BRAHE, SIR ISAAC NEWTON, PTOLEMY. REFERENZA 3 Game 50: The Pleasures of Astronomy Margaret Bryan. Science in Sport or the Pleasures of Astronomy. London: E[dward] Wallis, 42 Skinner Street, Snow Hill [c. 1815]. Copper engraving with original hand color, 45 x 57 cm., dissected and laid onto linen in 3 x 5 panels. Refs.: Ciompi/Seville 1384; Whitehouse, p. 35. This fine engraving shows as its central, winning space the original observatory at Greenwich, London known as Flamsteed House, from which the prime meridian is defined; the building was designed by Sir Christopher Wren for Charles II in 1675. It is flanked by portrait medallions of Ptolemy, Tycho Brahe, Copernicus and Sir Isaac Newton. Around it are definitions of technical terms in astronomy. The game has a 12-page book of rules, with notes on each of the 35 spaces. The game was ”revised and approved by Mrs Bryan of Blackheath.” As Lucy Inglis notes: Margaret Bryan worked between 1797 and 1816 in the fields of astronomy and mathematics. She ran a school for girls in Blackheath, London, at Bryan House where she lived with her husband and her two daughters. She believed mathematics and astronomy were important subjects for girls as well as boys, and the girls who attended her seminary were schooled in what she termed "natural philosophy". Her method of education was so popular amongst the children and their parents that Margaret felt encouraged to publish by subscription, in August of 1797, her Compendious System of Astronomy. The celebrated mathematician Charles Hutton recommended her lectures and she went on to publish more works, including Lectures on Natural Philosophy in 1806. Bryan’s teaching methods did not spare the inattentive: Space 6: The County Gaol - This is the place for those who attend more to the motion of billiard balls, more than to the motions of the planets. However hard you think your case / Stay here till someone takes your place. Space 12: A Blockhead (a wooden head complete with fool’s cap) - Whoever is so unfortunate as to fall upon this number loses his chance of the game. Space 15: The Man in the Moon - It is the ridiculous idea of some ignorant people that there is a man in the moon, with a dog and a bundle of wood, who causes the different appearances of it by eating it away, while they say it grows back again each month. That you may know better, go back to No. 13 [the phases of the moon] and read to yourself the description that you will find there. The science is both scrupulous and up to date: Space 16: The Stars - The fixed stars are bodies which, like the sun, shine with their own light. They are, from late observations, even supposed to be suns, each of them having a system of planets which revolve round him, but the immensity of their distances is such that it has not been ascertained by any method other than conjecture.... Observe likewise in this plate that faint streak of light in the heavens called the milky way which Dr Herschel has found to be an assemblage of stars, he having discovered many thousands. This would have been a fun game to play. (Adrian Seville) REFERENZA 4 "Science in Sport, or, The Pleasures of Astronomy: A New Instructive Pastime", London: Edward Wallis, 1804, 57 x 44 cm. (Yale University GV1199 .S35 1804.). HOW TO PLAY THE GAME: Margaret Bryan (fl. 1795–1816) ran a girl’s school in Blackheath, London, and was the author of a number of popular works on science. The publisher Edward Wallis likely felt that her association with this game would be a testament to its accuracy, as well as highlight its suitability for both boys and girls. The board has thirty-five numbered squares depicting astronomical objects, instruments, and principles, as well as portraits of astronomers (Ptolemy, Tycho Brahe, Nicholas Copernicus, and Isaac Newton). The center panel depicts the Royal Observatory (Flamsteed House) in Greenwich, England, from which the prime meridian is defined. The first player who landed there could assume the title of Astronomer Royal, but there were hazards along the way. Landing on square 15, for example, with its depiction of the The Man in the Moon - “the ridiculous idea of some ignorant people”- would send the player back to square 13, to read about The Phases of the Moon, so “that [he or she] may know better.” (Patrons) Exhibitions: - "The Royal Game of the Goose four hundred years of printed Board Games". Exhibition at the Grolier Club, February 23 - May 14, 2016 (Prof. Adrian Seville). - "Instruction and Delight: Children's Games from the Ellen and Arthur Liman Collection" (Yale Center for British Art, 17 January-23 May, 2019).
	bibliografia:	1) WHITEHAUSE, F.R.B.: "Table Games of Georgian and Victorian Days", London, Peter Garnett, 1951. 2) GOODFELLOW, Caroline: "A Collector's Guide to Games and Puzzles". Secaucus, New Jersey, Chartwell Books-London, Quintet Publishing Limited 1991. 3) GOODFELLOW, Caroline: "The Development of the English Board Game, 1770-1850", in Board Games Studies 1, 1998. 4) GOODFELLOW, Caroline: "Jeux de société. Le guide du collectionneur des jeux de société depuis le XVIIIe siècle jusqu’à nos jours", (Edizione francese) Carrousel MS, 2001. 5) SEVILLE, Adrian: "The Game of Goose: and its influence on cartographical race games" Journal of the International Map Collectors' Society, Winter 2008 N°115 2008. 6) SEVILLE, Adrian: "The geographical Jeux de l'Oie of Europe." In "Belgeo" 2008 3-4 2008. 7) GOODFELLOW, Caroline: "How We Played: Games From Childhood Past", History Press, 2012. 8) QUINN, Brian - CARTWRIGHT, William: "Geographic Board Games". Geospatial Science Research 3. School of Mathematical and Geospatial Science, RMIT University, Australia. December 2014. 9) SEVILLE, Adrian: "The Royal Game of the Goose four hundred years of printed Board Games". Catalogue of an Exhibition at the Grolier Club, February 23 - May 14, 2016. 10) LIMAN, Ellen: "Georgian and Victorian Board Games: The Liman Collection", Pointed Leaf Press, 2017. 11) NORCIA, Megan A.: "Gaming Empire in Children's British Board Games, 1836-1860". Studies in Childhood, 1700 to the Present. Routledge, 2019. 12) SEVILLE, Adrian: "L'arte dei giochi da tavolo. Oltre un secolo di storia e divertimento dalla fine del Settecento all'inizio del Novecento." Edizioni White Star, 2019. 13) PARLAK, Omer Fatih: "Seafearing through the Perspective of Historic Board Games", in DGSM, Köllen Druck+Verlag, Bonn 2020.
		"The Development of the English Board Game", 1770-1850 (Caroline G. Goodfellow)
		Throughout the 18th century and well into the 19th century, the size of the middle income group of merchants, solicitors, doctors and industrialists grew. Trade flourished and unknown areas were explored. The adventurers who were prepared to open shipping routes and establish trading agreements reaped rich financial rewards. This was an age of enlightenment, invention, innovation and scientific discovery. Games were a part of the industrial and social life of entire nations, reflecting changing ideas and ideals, particularly during periods of major upheaval. The upbringing of children within these middle class families changed dramatically. Education became essential, covering not only the `three Rs’, but sensible grounding in national and international affairs. National pride and achievements were stressed, as were faults. In general, everyone seemed to be looking outwards, to try to understand new concepts. We must, however, when viewing the games of this period, remember to set them against their own time rather than to evaluate them in the light of modern history, knowledge or ideals. The publishers of many of these games were already established producers of maps and books, many of which were aimed at children. The idea of creating an educational tool was, in a way, a novelty. The Game of Goose was already well known and it required few changes to create The Game of Human Life or the History of England. The games were well received by parents who appreciated the educational aspects, the children’s resulting enjoyment and possibly that the games could be played in relative peace and calm. The early games stressed learning through play, but this aspect was gradually dropped in favour of sheer enjoyment of play. However, not all games were that enjoyable despite the claims of their titles. Perhaps the whole logic of such games was summed up by John Harris in the introduction or Advertisement as it was called to his game Historical Pastimes which was published in 1810. “The utility and tendency of this Game must be obvious at first sight; for surely there cannot be a more agreeable study than History, and none more improving to Youth, than that which conveys to them, in a pleasing and comprehensive manner, the Events which have occurred in their own Country. The little prints, which are regularly numbered from 1 to 158, represent either Portraits of principal Personages who have signalised themselves as Kings, Statesmen, Churchmen, Generals, Poets etc., or some remarkable Occurrence in our Country. This will naturally excite a curiousity in the youthful mind; and that curiousity will be gratified in the short account of each reign subjoined. On the whole, the writer flatters himself, that the public approbation will convince him, that the hours he has devoted to the formation of this little Scheme, have not been spent in vain.” It is known from surviving records, paintings and artifacts that games of the period (and today) are played in a similar way to those of ancient civilisations in the near and far east. There are only a few basic methods of playing games and over the past 250 years many thousands of variations have been created. The basic methods of play come down to four types – race games, strategy games, table games and card games. Many were originally developed for adults and were later adapted for children. Today I will be discussing only board games developed in the United Kingdom. It was the race game which above all became the basis for the educational game of the late 18th century and first half of the 19th century. The aim was to win but it was played with an element of chance and normally gambling was included by the means of a central kitty or pool into which players placed an agreed number of counters. Throughout play, rewards were given and penalties paid; sometimes these were the receiving or forfeiting of counters and at other times forward or backward movement on the board itself, though not the removing of markers from the board unless there was a provision for retirement from the game. Why was this format produced for the wealth of educational games, including those teaching morals and behaviour, even though they retained the element of gambling and chance? Quite simply they were exciting to play. Astute publishers could use this characteristic to great advantage to encourage learning and reading skills. The Game of Goose is generally regarded as the prototype of the modern race game. Devised in Italy and taken from much early formats of games played in the Middle and Far East, it was first noted in England by John Wolfe in 1597 as “the Newe and Most Pleasant Game of the Goose”. There were usually 61 or 63 squares or compartments which stressed good and bad behaviour. Of these squares, a number were plain and a number decorated with either a scene or a goose. Landing on a goose was a good move and rewarded, often with the words “double his chance forward”, while if landing on a bad square such as the Ale House a double penalty was paid usually in the form of a counter to the pool and waiting until all others had taken a turn. There were also very severe penalties such as death or overthrowing the end of the game, which required the player to either start again or withdraw from the game completely. One of the earliest versions of this game was published about 1725 by John Bowls & Son and one of the latest during the 1980s. In general the format was a spiral or a flattened spiral but occasionally a new design was made, for example a one published by Richard Holmes Laurie, November 22, 1831. It shows a huge goose with three golden eggs set against a country scene. Variations of a theme were numerous. Laurie & Whittle, successors to Robert Sayers (they in turn were succeeded by Richard Holmes Laurie) continued to publish The Royal Pastime of Cupid Or Entertaining Game of The Snake which was based on the ancient Egyptian Game of the Snake, however, possibly in design only and not in rules. The reissuing of existing and popular games, often by successors to a business, was common. In many cases, no changes were made; in other case’s additions were included to update a game, particular ones on history or geography. All that a publisher needed to do was change the name and date of publication. Perhaps one of the best games of a goose was The New and Favourite Game of Mother Goose and The Golden Egg. It shows episodes and characters from the pantomime of the same title and includes Clown and Harlequin and places in London. It was published at the height of the career of Grimaldi the Clown, in September 1808, by John Wallis. Many of the first publishers of games were in fact cartographers and they quickly included the race game idea into game of Geography. The spiral format was not used; it was replaced by a map – of England and Wales, Scotland and Ireland (collectively or individually), of Europe or of the world. One of the first publishers was Robert Sayers, working from 53 Fleet Street. He published much for children including puzzles and other games. Having started in 1745, he was succeeded in 1794 by Laurie and Whittle. The ideas for geographical games are summed up in a statement in the booklet of Geographical Recreations or A Voyage around the Habitable Globe, 1809. “The game, consisting of 116 little prints of the most interesting objects in Geography, is designed to familiarise youth with the names and relative situations of places, together with the manners, customs and dresses of the different nations in the habitable globe; and, as curiousity will naturally be excited by the scenes which present themselves, and the observations likely to occur, it is presumed that these, with an occasional reference to the Synopsis herewith given, will prove a continual source of amusement to young people of both sexes, and will furnish such a fund of geographical knowledge, as may prove equally beneficial in reading and conversation.” This statement shows the high hopes that many publishers had for their games. The geographical ones could be boring to look at, they were simply maps, often surrounded with vast texts. One wonders now as we play these games, were the youths of both sexes excited, amused or entertained by any of them. Often the titles were more exciting than the games. There were The Tours of Europe, England and Wales by John Wallis, The Royal Geographical Amusement of The Safe and Expedious Traveller, The Royal Geographical Pastime. By the mid-19th century, many geographical games were devised on a pictorial note rather than simply maps. The historical and geographical games are quite illuminating when studying them for the context. To the modern reader, one may be surprised to see how well informed many of the comments could be. For example in A Tour Through The British Colonies and Foreign Possessions, published by John Betts, there is expressed disapproval in the selling of alcohol and weapons to North American Indians and the accepted fact that Sebastian Cabot rediscovered Newfoundland in 1496. William Darton, on the other hand, with his beautiful game The Noble Game of The Elephant and Castle, Or Travelling in Asia, 1822, seemed quite mystified by the strange ways and creatures found there for which there was no ‘rational’ explanation; this included a woolly mammoth. The games of geography essentially looked at the world from a British viewpoint but the publishers did acknowledge that other places and people might be interesting. The history based games, however, were altogether more inward looking and usually strictly based on events as they affected the British Isles. During the period under discussion, King George III was on the throne for most of the time, from 1760 to 1820. He and his son became the focal points for the games whether or not the events actually happened during their lifetimes. The second rather amazing fact is that for many of the history games, nothing happened before 1066 and the invasion of William the Conqueror. There are a few exceptions. One was The New Game of Universal History and Chronology, published in 1814 by John Wallis. This game starts with Adam and Eve, Anno Mundi 1. All the dates are given with great conviction, for example the Universal Deluge occurred in AM 1636. One now wonders how this knowledge was lost between then and today. The games of history had many squares, often more than 150, and of course by reducing the period of history covered more details could be included. The games were often re-issued and reworked with changes being added in or adapted, especially with the death of the kings. George the Third reigned for so long, that a game was published by John Harris to celebrate his Jubilee in 1810. The squares showed events of his lifetime and the text in the accompanying booklet was very flowery when in praise of the king but was equally robust when describing some of the more disagreeable events. Included also were scientific and geographical discoveries. Ten years later John Harris reworked The Jubilee as The Sun of Brunswick to celebrate the new king, George IV. The last 20 odd compartments were redone to include the deaths of Queen Charlotte, wife of George III, Charlotte Augusta the daughter of George IV, who was in a fact heir to the throne and known as Princess of Wales, and of George III himself. By the 1840s, Queen Victoria was on the throne and one of the most important new inventions was the railway, both were added to reissue games. Gradually both history and geography-based games were replaced by other forms of games and of course, methods of learning. But these subjects were not the only ones to be treated in this way. Mathematics, natural history and languages were also subjected to the race game format though generally these games were not as attractive to look at. However, if played correctly, they were enjoyable ways of learning. An Arithmetical Pastime was published in 1791 by C. Taylor. It had 100 circles, some of which contained illustrations while others had directions and forfeits to be paid. The forfeits were repeating tables, some of which were obvious such as the times tables, others were less so, for example the wine measures. Other tables are not now used – the avoirdupois, for example, measured pounds and ounces. If a player could not meet the forfeit, he had the choice of missing turns or moving backwards. A later version, with the same title, had quite different rules and used two teetotums for the moves and to learn the mathematical disciplines. The players had to subtract, multiply or divide the two numbers given by the teetotums and the result formed the move. Used to accompany the game was a set of verses to be read out and a list of further rewards or forfeits. This version was the ultimate teacher as it taught everything - morals, history, geography and arithmetic. inked to mathematical games were those of astronomy. Science in Sport or The Pleasures of Astronomy, published 1804 by John Wallis, had 35 compartments with the portraits of astronomers and representations of astronomical phenomena. At the time nine planets and their movements around the sun were known, however, these were added to with fictional representations, for example The Man in the Moon. Often behaviour traits, The Studious Boy and the Blockhead, signs of the zodiac, comets, rainbows and even known astrologers were shown. The Circle of Knowledge, published about 1845 by John Passmore, included the zodiac around the central compartment. Unlike many games of the time, it was arranged in four concentric circles. As well as the zodiac and the four cardinal compass points, Europe, Asia, America and Africa were shown, together with the four seasons, the four houses of the zodiac and the four sciences - electricity, chemistry, optics and astronomy. The illustrations too were unusual, for example fire was illustrated by a volcano, a burning farm and a pit explosion while optics were shown as a giant telescope, a magic lantern show and the perspective of a tunnel. One of the best games of natural history was William Darton’s 1820 version of British and Foreign Animals. The subtitle again gave graphic details about the aims of the publisher with “A New Game, Moral, Instructive and Amusing, designed to allure the Minds of Youth to an Acquaintance with the Wonders of Nature.” Both domestic and wild animals were included, even the Australian kangaroo. A companion game published by Darton in 1822 had the wonderful title The Delicious Game of The Fruit Basket or The Novel and Elegant Game of The Basket of Fruit. Sadly only the design and title were delicious as the game dwelt mainly on penitentiaries and trial by jury, the Royal Academy, hospitals, national schools and the School for the Blind, sciences and religion. Both games while following the principles of rewards and forfeits were very much a teaching tool. William Darton’s games seemed to have a sombre side as many were very moral and rather disagreeable in tone yet beautifully executed. He later produced one which should have cheered everyone up, called A Voyage of Discovery or The Five Navigators, 1836. However, it dealt with the dangers and incidents likely to befall sailors. We have touched on the games teaching history, geography and so on but the final main group was that of morals; these games were extended forms of the original Game of the Goose. Within many of the previously mentioned games, morals were included, however, the publishers devised many more which were very strict. Often they had good titles and possibly the best was The New Game of Virtue Rewarded and Vice Punished for The Amusement of Youth of Both Sexes, published in 1820 by William Darton. A generation earlier, a similar subtitle was “Designed for the Amusement of Youth of Both Sexes and Calculated to Inspire their Minds with an Abhorrence of Vice and a Love of Virtue.” Taken from The New Game of Emulation, published by John Harris in 1804, this game actually showed many images a child would actually come across, a shepherd with his flock, a church, school, even a rocking horse while the almost cryptic words “cheerfully exert themselves to obtain an honorary prize” while being “perfectly aware of the consequences of disgrace and naturally dread it” rather deadened the pleasing illustrations. Two methods of teaching morals or behaviour were produced, though both used the same games format. One method was based on the passage of life from infancy to old age and death and showed the temptations one might meet along the way. These tended to have straight formal titles such as The Game of Human Life and more often than not were based on the male life to the exclusion of females. However, the games were not restricted to boys playing them, as the subtitle to The Game of Human Life states “...most Agreeable and Rational Recreation ever Invented for Youth of Both Sexes.” Parents were encouraged to instruct their children on each of the characters, usually 84, with “a few moral and judicious observations... and contrast the happiness of a virtuous and well spent life with the fatal consequences arising from vicious and immoral pursuits”. Most of the characters have the same meanings today although some of the pursuits would not now draw penalties, for example The Romance Writer must pay two and move back to the Mischievous Child and the Dramatist must pay four and begin again. The Tragic Author has the harshest as he advances to the Immortal Man and dies but to compensate him he actually wins the pool or kitty by finishing first. The game quoted was published in 1790 by John Wallis and Elizabeth Newbery. (While we are discussing only English games of this period, there are some very fine French and German examples of The Game of Human Life, often far more intricate in design.) The second method, developed slightly later, was stricter and based on the fundamental principles that if you behave properly all bodes well, but if you slip from the straight and narrow the penalties are severe. These titles were much more lucid with The Cottage of Content or Right Road and Wrong Ways, The Journey, The Mansion of Bliss and The Mansion of Happiness. (This latter one is also the title of one of the first American board games, published by W & S B Ives in 1843.) Penalties were paid for often routine bad traits – straying, boasting, wasting time, idleness, self-indolence, obstinacy, ignorance, pride, conceit and forgetfulness; other traits were considered very bad - theft, lying, drunkenness, cheating. In most of the games there were more bad than good traits – recollection, repentance, patience, kindness, exertion and diligence. Snakes & Ladders was the game which took over the teaching of morals, and it was a version of a game introduced from India. Like the earlier versions, there were more snakes, the baddies, than ladders, generally 12 to 8. By the middle of the 19th century new processes were being introduced, lithography had been developed which was cheaper than the engraving and etching processes, even though the publishers had been one of the first groups to involve themselves in new technology – the use of static steam presses instead of hand operated ones. Many of the original group had died. The men and women who developed these early teaching games seemed to be inspired and that inspiration seemed to die with them. New publishers, new methods of production, new methods of teaching and new games formats changed the look of the board games and the very reasons for their existence. As we study them today, however, the games remain excellent teaching tools. We learn from these games the history and social life of the people, what they felt was important and how they regarded themselves in relationship to the rest of the world and other cultures. Publishers Mentioned John Wallis, with sons John and Edward; one of the most prolific publishers of games and dissected puzzles between 1775 and 1847. Also worked with John Harris and Elizabeth Newbery. Elizabeth Newbery, part of the leading publishing family of children’s literature during the 18th century; John Harris managed her establishment. Worked with John Wallis John Harris, took over Elizabeth Newbery’s business in 1801 and worked until it was sold in 1843. Robert Sayer, one of the earliest publishers of children’s games, 1745-1794. Laurie & Whittle, Robert Laurie and James Whittle; acquired the business of Robert Sayer in 1794. Richard Holmes Laurie succeeded Robert on his death in 1812 and James Whittle on his death in 1818. Also worked with other publishers including William Darton. William Darton, established 1787 and under went many name changes depending on the partners and sons. The William referred to here was the son who opened his own establishment in 1804. John Betts, leading 19th century publisher between 1827 and 1874. John Passmore, published from 1840 to 1869.
		Instructional Games. "Table Games of Georgian and Victorian Days". (Francis Reginald Beaman, Whitehause)

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