The Game of the Goose is generally regarded as the prototype of the modern race game. It was devised in Florence, Italy, in the last quarter of the 16th century and first came to England in 1597. This game is apparently a reprint or a re-engraving of a plate used for an edition of the game issued at the end of the 18th century or the beginning of the 19th century. Instead of the more usual sequence of numbered spaces, this design places the playing area within the body of a goose. The numbering starts beneath the goose's eye and continues from right to left, and back from left to right across the body to the last number, 63, which is at the bottom by one of the legs.
Physical description
Design: engraving; impression from the plate used for printed the playing sheet; goose in a landscape with circular medallions on the body; 18 sheets on linen
No. of squares: 63
Squares illustrated: some
Square numbering: all
Squares titled: 6,9,11,52,58 ; others with goose
Subject of starting square: blank
Subject of ending square: blank
Place of Origin
London, England (published)
Date
22/11/1831 (published)
Artist/maker
R H Laurie (publisher)
Materials and Techniques
Hand coloured engraving on paper backed with linen
Dimensions
Height: 40.6 cm, Width: 47.2 cm
Object history note
Richard Holmes Laurie was at the 53 Fleet Street address between 1813 and 1859. See also note at the end of the Rules. Another impression E. 1752-1954. The game was re-issued several times.
The goose is set against a river scene with a house in the far left distance and three large `golden eggs' in the lower left corner
Historical context note
Rewards: receipt of stakes, forward movement, extra turns
Forfeits: payment of stakes, backward movement, missing turns
No. of Players: any
Equipment required: dice, markers, counters
Rules:
RULES TO BE OBSERVED IN THIS GAME:
1. This game is play'd with a pair of dice and any number of persons may play at it.
2. Whatever number it is that anyone throws, the person must place his counter in the white shape under the same number. For example, - Should the cast be 6 and 3, he must place the counter at 9; if the cast be 6 and 5, he must place the counter at 11; and, when he throws again, he must add the number to that where his counter lies and so remove accordingly.
3. He that throws a 6 must pay a stake for his passage over the Bridge and go to 12.
4. He that throws a Goose, must double his cast forward from his last place.
5. He that throws 19, where the Ale House is, must pay a stake and drink till his turn comes to throw again.
6. He that throws 31, where the well is, must stay there till everyone has thrown twice, unless, someone else throws the same and then he must return to that person's place.
7. He that throws 42, where the maze is, must pay a stake and return back to the number 29.
8. He that goeth to 52, where the Prison is, must pay one stake and stay there a prisoner till somebody relieves him by throwing the same number.
9. He that goeth to 58, where Death is, must pay one stake and begin again.
10. He that is overtaken by another, must return to his place that overtook him and both must pay a stake.
11. He that overthroweth the number 63 must return back and begin as at first.
12. He that throweth the just number 63 winneth the Game.
Notes: Nos. 14,18,23,27,32,41,45,50,54 and 59 each show a goose. The numbering of the playing sheet starts at 1 beneath the goose's eye and then continues from left to right, back right to left across the body to the last number 63 which is at the bottom by one of the legs.
This game is apparently a reprint or a re-engraving of a plate probably used by Laurie and Whittle for an edition of the game issued at the end of the 18th century or the beginning of the 19th century.
The Game of the Goose, the prototype of the race track games, was invented in Florence in the last quarter of the 16th century and first came to England in 1597.
Rules placement: in egg shape in the centre of the plate beneath top margin
Descriptive line
Hand coloured engraving, Game of the Golden Goose, published in England by R H Laurie in 1831
Categories
Games
Collection code
MoC
