Royal Geographical Amusement or the Safe and Expeditious Traveller Through all the Parts of Europe by Sea and by Land

Physical description

Design: engraving; impression from the plate used for printing the playing sheet showing a map of Europe with the principal and capital cities numbered. together with printed sheet of rules and descriptive text.
No. of squares: 103
Squares illustrated: ?
Square numbering: 1 to 103
Squares titled: in text
Subject of starting square: Calais
Subject of ending square: London

Place of Origin

London, England (published)

Date

01/12/1823 (published)

Artist/maker

R H Laurie (publisher)

Materials and Techniques

Engraved paper

Dimensions

Length: 50.5 cm, Width: 53.4 cm

Object history note

The game was published by Robert Sayer in 1774. Robert Laurie and James Whittle succeeded Sayer at his premises in 1794 and were in turn succeeded by R H Laurie in 1813 (1813-59). It would appear that the game is an impression from the original with the lettering altered. See details after the rules. See also E.1747 & 1767-1954
The game was originally a companion to A New Royal Geographical Pastime for England and Wales.

CGG-GAMES & PUZZLES, 1991

Historical context note

Rewards: forward movement and extra turns
Forfeits: backward movement and missing turns
No. of Players: 2 to 6
Equipment required: teetotum; turned pillars called Travellers with four counters matching each of the Travellers

Rules:
EXPLANATION AND RULES OF THE GAME
The number of players may be from two to six; he who has the highest number in spinning the totum, is to begin, and the others are to follow according to their respective numbers.
Three Gentlemen or Ladies are supplied to make the tour of Europe; they are represented by the three Turned Pillars, called Travellers, each of the players having one of these, which is to be placed at the stage corresponding to the number turned up. the four counters, of the same colour with the Traveller, are to be employed as Markers, and take the name SERVANTS. The player is to lay down as many of these as he is ordered to wait turns, and when it comes to his turn to spin again, instead of spinning he must take up one Marker, and so on, till they are all taken up.
The person who plays first, places his Traveller according to the number given by the totum, for instance, if you turn up No. 7, you place the turned Pillar upon St. Malo, and there let it remain until it is you turn to spin again; f at the second spinning you turn up No. 4, let it be added to 7, which being 11, you proceed on your journey in removing the Traveller to Bordeaux, and so on till you arrive at London, No. 103, which is the end of the Game and the Journey. But as it may very often happen that the Traveller should be carried beyond this last number, by the chances of play, in such a case he is to return to Hanover at 89 and then spin again his turn, to take his departure from that town.
The Traveller, which is overtaken by another, must go back to the stage left vacant by the former.

The rules are followed by a descriptive passage for each of the 103 stages. This also gives any forfeits and rewards

At the bottom of the rules and explanation is the following text:
LONDON: Printed for Robert Sayer and Co., Fleet Street. Where may be had just published,
A collection of new maps dissected for the instruction and amusement of youth, comprehending the world and the quarters, England, Scotland, Ireland and all the Empires, Kingdoms and States in Europe. Each enclosed in a very neat mahogany box. Price 7s. 6d.
The same, with the sea coasts, etc, larger 10s 6d. each.
Also a new Geographical Game of England and Wales; with an excursion to France, Scotland and Ireland, being a companion to this.

Rules placement: printed sheet with descriptive text of each stop

Descriptive line

Engraved paper game, Royal Geographical Amusement, published in England by R H Laurie in 1823

Categories

Games

Collection code

BGM