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Wallis's New Game of Universal History and Chronology

Board Game
ca. 1840 (published)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This game from 1840 is a reworked issue of the 1814 edition of the game and the central area of the game has been updated to reflect later historical events. The earlier game had at its centre a portrait of George IV as Prince Regent. This has been replaced with five further playing spaces including William IV and Queen Victoria, the Marriage of Queen Victoria and a railway train running through an embankment.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Board Game
  • Case
TitleWallis's New Game of Universal History and Chronology (manufacturer's title)
Materials and techniques
Hand-coloured engraved paper on linen
Brief description
Hand coloured historical race game, Universal History and Chronology, published in England by John Wallis about 1840
Physical description
Design: reworked version, etching hand coloured to show 143 medallions
No. of squares: 143
Squares illustrated: all
Square numbering: numbered 1 to 143
Squares titled: none, see booklet
Subject of starting square: creation of the world
Subject of ending square: train running through an embankment no booklet
Dimensions
  • Length: 53cm
  • Width: 53cm
  • Cover length: 20cm
  • Cover width: 14cm
Object history
the extra 5 squares take the place of the portraint of George IV to include William IV and Queen Victoria, the Marriage of Queen Victoria (142 and a railway train running through an embankment (143)



CGG-Games & Puzzles, 1991
Historical context
Rewards: receipt of counters
Forfeits: payment of counters payment of counters
No. of Players: up to 12
Equipment required: teetotum, markers and counters

Rules:
THE RULES OF PLAY WILL BE SIMILAR TO THE CHRONOLOGY GAME, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE REWORKED AREAS. IT IS PROBABLE THAT A BOOKLET DID ONCE EXIST AND PLAY WOULD NEED TO BE ADJUSTED TO FIT THE NEW SQUARES IN. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

EXPLANATION TO WALLIS'S NEW GAME OF UNIVERSAL HISTORY AND CHRONOLOGY, LONDON PRINTED FOR JOHN WALLIS No. 42 SKINNER STREET; BY F VIGURS, 14, YORK STREET, COVENT GARDENS, 1814

RULES FOR PLAYING
Rule 1. The materials for playing this Game are, a Teetotum, which is to be numbered with pen and ink; twelve letters, or markers, to place on the numbers at which each player stands in the Game; and two dozen fish or counters for each, which may be pieces of card, or any other substance.
II. Let the letters be placed on the table, face downwards; and each player draw one, which is to be his marker. Whoever has the earliest letter in the alphabet, is to spin first, and the others follow in rotation.
III . Each player must put six counters into the pool.
IV. Let the first player spin, and, placing his marker on the Game according to the number turned up, refer to the Chronology of Events, and observe the directions there given.
V. Whenever a player is directed to read the history of any event in another page, he shall have the privilege, after so doing, of spinning again, and be rewarded with a counter from each player.
VI. The fines placed on any number are only to be taken by those who arrive at it by spinning; and not when sent from another number; neither are the directions to be then observed.
VII. If two persons arrive at the same number, the last comer shall return to his former place, and receive two from the first for so doing. (This is the opposite to that of Game of Human Life)..
VIII.After the Game has gone once round, the first player is to spin again, and add that number which turns up to his f former one. Thus, if he were at 8, and at his second spin turn up 6, he moves to 14; and in this manner proceed till some one arrive at 139; but whoever goes beyond that must return to his former place, till some one arrive at the lucky number, who takes all the counters and wins the game.

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Within the booklet is a list of the squares; their titles and the dates applied to each, for example ANNO MUNDI 1 The creation of the World and AM 1656 The Universal Deluge..

Also within the booklet are the OUTLINES OF HISTORY given for some but not all the squares. These also contain some rewards and forfeits instructions and in general are meant to be read aloud by the players who land on the chosen squares.


139 - 1820 His Majasty George IV created king following the death of his father,

140 - 1833 The abolition of colonial slavery during the reign of William IV

141 - 1837 Queen Victoria ascended the throne at the age of eighteen.

142 - 1840 Marriage of Queen Victoria to Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha

143 - A completion of your journey upon the railway. Take possession of the Pool and proclaim the game at an end.

Rules placement: no booklet
Summary
This game from 1840 is a reworked issue of the 1814 edition of the game and the central area of the game has been updated to reflect later historical events. The earlier game had at its centre a portrait of George IV as Prince Regent. This has been replaced with five further playing spaces including William IV and Queen Victoria, the Marriage of Queen Victoria and a railway train running through an embankment.
Collection
Accession number
E.1783-1954

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Record createdMarch 4, 2000
Record URL
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