The game of German Tactics or Solitaire thumbnail 1
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at Young V&A
Play Gallery, the Arcade, Case 1

This object consists of 38 parts, some of which may be located elsewhere.

The game of German Tactics or Solitaire

Board Game
ca.1920 (manufactured)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Circular solitaire board of varnished wood mounted on three button feet, with hemispherical holes for thirty four marbles, linked by pigmented lines. Nine of the holes are linked by a squared framework marked out in dark green.

Set of marbles to use with the game:
2. Marble of clear glass with a swirled yellow latticino core and alternating white and coloured stripes (a red, a green and a blue).
3. Marble of clear glass with a swirled yellow latticino core and alternating coloured stripes with white edges (two red, a green and a blue).
4. Marble of clear glass with a swirled white latticino core and alternating coloured stripes (three red, a green/ blue, a blue and a purple).
5. arble of clear glass with a divided core in alternating swirls of flame/ green and flame/ white/ blue with outer groups of hair stripes in alternating flame and white.
6. Marble of clear glass with a swirled orange latticino core and alternating blue and white stripes.
7. Marble of clear glass with a swirled orange latticino core and alternating stripes in white and colours (a purple, a green and a blue).
8. Marble of clear glass with a swirled white latticino core and alternating red and orange stripes.
9. Marble of clear glass with a swirled orange latticino core and alternating coloured blue and green stripes with white edges.
10. Marble of greenish clear glass with a swirled white latticino core and red stripes.
11. Marble of clear glass with a swirled orange latticino core and alternating blue and green stripes with white edges.
12. Marble of clear glass with a swirled white latticino core and alternating orange and coloured stripes (a purple, a green and a blue).
13. Marble of clear glass with a swirled white latticino core and alternating red and coloured stripes (a green, a purple and a blue).
14. Marble of clear glass with a swirled orange latticino core and alternating white and coloured stripes (a purple, a green and a blue).
15. Marble of clear glass with a swirled white latticino core and alternating flame and coloured stripes (a green and a blue).
16. Marble of clear glass with a swirled white latticino core and alternating flame and coloured stripes (a green and a blue).
17. Marble of clear glass with a divided swirled core of white, green and blue with orange hair stripes.
18. Marble of green glass with mica flecks suspended within it.
19. Marble of clear glass with a divided swirled core of flame, green and orange with white hair stripes.
20. Marble of clear glass with a divided swirled core of white, green, flame and blue with yellow hair stripes.
21. Marble of clear glass with a divided swirled core of white, flame and blue.
22. Marble of clear glass with a divided swirled core of white, orange and purple.
23. Marble of clear glass with a divided swirled core of white, orange, green and blue, with hair stripes of orange.
24. Marble of clear glass with a divided swirled core of white, flame, green and blue, with hair stripes of white and orange.
25. Marble of clear glass with a divided swirled core of white, flame, green purple and blue, with hair stripes of orange.
26. Marble of clear glass with a divided swirled core of white, flame, purple and blue, with hair stripes of yellow.
27. Marble of clear glass with a divided swirled core of white, flame, green and blue, with hair stripes of white and orange.
28. Marble of clear glass with a divided swirled core of white, flame, green and blue, with hair stripes of white and orange.
29. Marble of clear glass with a swirled ribbon core of white, orange, flame, green and blue, and hair stripes of white and yellow.
30. Marble of clear glass with a swirled ribbon core of white, flame and green, and hair stripes of white and orange.
31. Marble of clear glass with a swirled ribbon core of white, orange, green and blue.
32. Marble of clear glass with a swirled hair stripe ribbon core of yellow, and outer stripes of white, flame, and purple.
33. Marble of clear glass with a swirled white striped core and alternating stripes of flame and blue.
34. Marble of clear glass with a swirled white striped core and alternating stripes of flame and blue.

Pink paper sheet, printed in black with a diagram and instructions for playing the game of Solitaire on the obverse, and an advertisement for the same manufacturer's 'Tick-Tock' game (with a photogravure illustration) on the reverse.

Pale green paper sheet, printed in black with instructions for playing the game of 'German Tactics' on the obverse, and an advertisement for the same manufacturer's games 'Catelle' and Spinanspell' (with a photogravure illustration) on the reverse.

Square brown cardboard box lid and base, each stapled together at the corners. In the centre of the lid is pasted a squared label of grey paper printed in dark blue with the words 'The Game of GERMAN TACTICS and SOLITAIRE/ Published by John Jaques & Son, Ltd., London' within a decorative border of stylized linear flowers and foliage.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 38 parts.

  • Board Games
  • Marbles
  • Marbles
  • Marbles
  • Marbles
  • Marbles
  • Marbles
  • Marbles
  • Marbles
  • Marbles
  • Marbles
  • Marbles
  • Marbles
  • Marbles
  • Marbles
  • Marbles
  • Marbles
  • Marbles
  • Marbles
  • Marbles
  • Marbles
  • Marbles
  • Marbles
  • Marbles
  • Marbles
  • Marbles
  • Marbles
  • Marbles
  • Marbles
  • Marbles
  • Marbles
  • Marbles
  • Marbles
  • Marbles
  • Sheets (Information Artifacts)
  • Sheets (Information Artifacts)
  • Box
  • Box
TitleThe game of German Tactics or Solitaire (manufacturer's title)
Materials and techniques
Turned and varnished wood, glass, printed paper, card
Brief description
Wooden solitaire board and marbles, also used for German Tactics game, made in England by John Jaques & Son about 1920
Physical description
Circular solitaire board of varnished wood mounted on three button feet, with hemispherical holes for thirty four marbles, linked by pigmented lines. Nine of the holes are linked by a squared framework marked out in dark green.

Set of marbles to use with the game:
2. Marble of clear glass with a swirled yellow latticino core and alternating white and coloured stripes (a red, a green and a blue).
3. Marble of clear glass with a swirled yellow latticino core and alternating coloured stripes with white edges (two red, a green and a blue).
4. Marble of clear glass with a swirled white latticino core and alternating coloured stripes (three red, a green/ blue, a blue and a purple).
5. arble of clear glass with a divided core in alternating swirls of flame/ green and flame/ white/ blue with outer groups of hair stripes in alternating flame and white.
6. Marble of clear glass with a swirled orange latticino core and alternating blue and white stripes.
7. Marble of clear glass with a swirled orange latticino core and alternating stripes in white and colours (a purple, a green and a blue).
8. Marble of clear glass with a swirled white latticino core and alternating red and orange stripes.
9. Marble of clear glass with a swirled orange latticino core and alternating coloured blue and green stripes with white edges.
10. Marble of greenish clear glass with a swirled white latticino core and red stripes.
11. Marble of clear glass with a swirled orange latticino core and alternating blue and green stripes with white edges.
12. Marble of clear glass with a swirled white latticino core and alternating orange and coloured stripes (a purple, a green and a blue).
13. Marble of clear glass with a swirled white latticino core and alternating red and coloured stripes (a green, a purple and a blue).
14. Marble of clear glass with a swirled orange latticino core and alternating white and coloured stripes (a purple, a green and a blue).
15. Marble of clear glass with a swirled white latticino core and alternating flame and coloured stripes (a green and a blue).
16. Marble of clear glass with a swirled white latticino core and alternating flame and coloured stripes (a green and a blue).
17. Marble of clear glass with a divided swirled core of white, green and blue with orange hair stripes.
18. Marble of green glass with mica flecks suspended within it.
19. Marble of clear glass with a divided swirled core of flame, green and orange with white hair stripes.
20. Marble of clear glass with a divided swirled core of white, green, flame and blue with yellow hair stripes.
21. Marble of clear glass with a divided swirled core of white, flame and blue.
22. Marble of clear glass with a divided swirled core of white, orange and purple.
23. Marble of clear glass with a divided swirled core of white, orange, green and blue, with hair stripes of orange.
24. Marble of clear glass with a divided swirled core of white, flame, green and blue, with hair stripes of white and orange.
25. Marble of clear glass with a divided swirled core of white, flame, green purple and blue, with hair stripes of orange.
26. Marble of clear glass with a divided swirled core of white, flame, purple and blue, with hair stripes of yellow.
27. Marble of clear glass with a divided swirled core of white, flame, green and blue, with hair stripes of white and orange.
28. Marble of clear glass with a divided swirled core of white, flame, green and blue, with hair stripes of white and orange.
29. Marble of clear glass with a swirled ribbon core of white, orange, flame, green and blue, and hair stripes of white and yellow.
30. Marble of clear glass with a swirled ribbon core of white, flame and green, and hair stripes of white and orange.
31. Marble of clear glass with a swirled ribbon core of white, orange, green and blue.
32. Marble of clear glass with a swirled hair stripe ribbon core of yellow, and outer stripes of white, flame, and purple.
33. Marble of clear glass with a swirled white striped core and alternating stripes of flame and blue.
34. Marble of clear glass with a swirled white striped core and alternating stripes of flame and blue.

Pink paper sheet, printed in black with a diagram and instructions for playing the game of Solitaire on the obverse, and an advertisement for the same manufacturer's 'Tick-Tock' game (with a photogravure illustration) on the reverse.

Pale green paper sheet, printed in black with instructions for playing the game of 'German Tactics' on the obverse, and an advertisement for the same manufacturer's games 'Catelle' and Spinanspell' (with a photogravure illustration) on the reverse.

Square brown cardboard box lid and base, each stapled together at the corners. In the centre of the lid is pasted a squared label of grey paper printed in dark blue with the words 'The Game of GERMAN TACTICS and SOLITAIRE/ Published by John Jaques & Son, Ltd., London' within a decorative border of stylized linear flowers and foliage.
Dimensions
  • Board diameter: 234mm
  • Board height: 34mm
  • Marbles diameter: 19mm (each)
  • Pink paper sheet height: 189mm
  • Pink paper sheet width: 127mm
  • Green paper sheet height: 191mm
  • Green paper sheet width: 127mm
  • Box height: 41mm
  • Box width: 265mm
  • Box depth: 265mm
Production typeMass produced
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'THE GAME OF SOLITAIRE'
  • 'TICK-TOCK'
  • 'A RACE WITH THE CLOCK'
  • 'THE MILITARY GAME OF GERMAN TACTICS'
  • 'CATELLE'
  • 'SPINANSPELL'
  • 'The Game of / GERMAN / TACTICS / and / SOLITAIRE / Published by / John Jaques & Son, Ltd. London' (Centre of box lid)
  • '3/6' (Price, handwritten in pencil)
Credit line
Bequeathed by Ida Carroll
Production
Reason For Production: Retail
Collection
Accession number
B.8:1 to 38-1999

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Record createdMarch 29, 1999
Record URL
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