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Board game - Snakes and Ladders

Snakes and Ladders

  • Object:

    Board game

  • Place of origin:

    England (published)

  • Date:

    1958-1963 (published)

  • Artist/Maker:

    J & L Randall Ltd (manufacturer)

  • Materials and Techniques:

    Chromolithographed paper on card

  • Museum number:

    MISC.40-1977

  • Gallery location:

    In store

  • Image in copyright

When it was originally devised, Snakes and Ladders was a moral game. The virtues, in the shape of ladders allowed the players to reach heaven quickly. The snakes were the vices for which the players were punished by having to move backwards. The game is generally considered to be a version of the Indian Moksha-Patamu religious instruction game. This English version just has the ladders and snakes but retains the older style spiral design with the end space in the centre of the game.

Physical description

Design: chromolithograph mounted on card, folded in half; back covered with red paper and showing a label illustrating snakes and ladders. The playing surface is in a spiral format.
No. of squares: 142
Squares illustrated: none
Square numbering: all
Squares titled: none
Subject of starting square: says ` start`
Subject of ending square: says ` game'

Place of Origin

England (published)

Date

1958-1963 (published)

Artist/maker

J & L Randall Ltd (manufacturer)

Materials and Techniques

Chromolithographed paper on card

Dimensions

Height: 38.1 cm
Width: 38.1 cm

Object history note

marks: A MERIT GAME PUBLISHED BY J & L RANDALL LTD MADE IN ENGLAND
The company was founded in 1940, became a private company in 1958 and a public company in 1963

CGG-Games & Puzzles, 1991

Historical context note

Rewards: forward movement along the ladders
Forfeits: backward movement along the snakes
No. of Players: any
Equipment required: markers, dice and dice thrower; all available in original box

Rules placement: none

Descriptive line

Card board game of Snakes and Ladders made in England by J & L Randall between 1958 and 1963

Categories

Games

Production Type and Product Note

Mass produced

Collection code

BGM

Qr_O26005
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