Not currently on display at the V&A

The Jubilee

Historical Board Game
01/01/1810 (published)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Design: engraving, coloured by hand; 12 sections of paper mounted on linen
No. of squares: 150, illustrated and numbered 1 to 150
Subject of starting square: Proclamation of George III, 1760
Subject of ending square: The Jubilee, September 1809
Rewards: receipt of counters and forward movement; also provision if one player lands on an occupied square, the first moves one forward and receives payment
Forfeits: payment of counters, and backward movement
No. of Players: 6, see rules
Equipment required: teetotum, markers and counters, see rules
Rules placement: booklet


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 4 parts.

  • Board Game
  • Slipcases
  • Booklet
  • Playing Pieces
Titles
  • The Jubilee (manufacturer's title)
  • A New and Interesting Game exhibiting the remarkable events from the Accession of His Majesty King George III to the 25th of October 1809 when he entered the 50th year of his reign. (manufacturer's title)
Materials and techniques
hand coloured engraving
Brief description
The Jubilee, J Harris, English, 1810
Physical description
Design: engraving, coloured by hand; 12 sections of paper mounted on linen
No. of squares: 150, illustrated and numbered 1 to 150
Subject of starting square: Proclamation of George III, 1760
Subject of ending square: The Jubilee, September 1809
Rewards: receipt of counters and forward movement; also provision if one player lands on an occupied square, the first moves one forward and receives payment
Forfeits: payment of counters, and backward movement
No. of Players: 6, see rules
Equipment required: teetotum, markers and counters, see rules
Rules placement: booklet
Dimensions
  • Length: 22in
  • Width: 20.875in
  • Folded length: 7.875in
  • Folded width: 5.5in
Object history
The booklet contains a brief description of each of the 150 plates and also a more detailed description of the REMARKABLE OCCURRENCES DURING THE REIGN OF HIS PRESENT MAJESTY.
see also Historical Pastimes
Historical context
Rules:
RULES AND DIRECTIONS FOR PLAYING THE JUBILEE
In playing this Game, a teetotum of eight sides is made use of, together with six counters of different colours, as markers, to avoid confusion in telling the game. Each player should also be provided with about two dozen of counters, on which a nominal value should be set, that any player who happens to be out, may purchase of the winners.
If more than six persons sit down to play, a greater number of markers may be cut out of card, and distinguished by figures, as may be agreed on.
Each player proceeds in the game according to the numbers he spins, and pays the fine, or receives the reward appointed. Advances are made by adding the figure turned to that on which the marker stands.
Should any player spin a number on which there is already a marker, he must take its place and the other must move one forward.
Any player taking more than his due, must go back as many numbers as he took. If he take too few, and the next player have spun, he must remain where he was.
Whatever fines are marked in the list of numbers, must be put into the pool, and the first who makes exactly 150, or `The Jubilee' wins the game; but if he happens to spin above that number, he must go back as may from 150 as he spun beyond it, till he or some one else wins the pool and its contents.
Persons going backward in the game are exempted from the fines attached to the figures on which they be obliged to rest.
EXAMPLE
Suppose John, Thomas and James play the game; James chooses a white marker, Thomas a red and john a green one; James by agreement spins first; and finding the uppermost number of the teetotum to be 2, he places his Marker on the Funeral of George the Second. Thomas spins next, No. 8, and places his mark on the Birth of the Prince of Wales. John next turns No 1 and places his mark on the Proclamation of George the Third. James then plays again, and spins No. 8 which being added to 2, his former number, sends him forward to the Commitment of Wilkes to the Tower, when he is to pay 2 counters to the pool, and go back to No. 1. Thomas spins No. 7 which, added to 8, his former number, brings him to the first meeting of the American Congress. John then spins No. 5, which added to 1, his former number, carries him to the Declaration of War against Spain and pays two counters to the Pool. Again James spins No. 5, which authorises him to take the station occupied by Thomas's mark. Thomas therefore moves to No. 16; and John having spun No. 3 moves to No. 9.

The following is in the front of the booklet and while an advertisement is more a praise of the King
ADVERTISEMENT
This Game may be considered as a Continuation of one published a few years back, entitled HISTORICAL PASTIMES OF ENGLAND, which commenced at the Conquest and ended at the Accession of his present Majesty. where that left off, this begins; and it is hoped that the Events recorded (and surely an eventful Reign it has been) will create a lively interest in the breast of every Juvenile Briton; it is continued to the 25th of October 1809, the day our revered Sovereign entered the Fiftieth year of his Reign, and a Day of Jubilee in every part of his Dominions.
The writer of this has only to unite his wishes with those of his fellow subjects, that our good King may long continue to be the Ruler, as he has hitherto been the Father of a free and generous People.
Production
John Harris, corner of St. Paul's Church Yard, 1st Jany. 1810
Associated object
E.1771-1954 (version)
Bibliographic reference
The Collectors' Guide to Children's Games & Toys, CG Goodfellow, Apple Press, 1991
Collection
Accession number
E.467-1949

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Record createdMarch 4, 2000
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