Not currently on display at the V&A

The Circle of Knowledge, A New Game of the Wonders of Nature, Science and Art

Board Game
ca. 1845 (published)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The playing surface is divided into four concentric circles, three of which contain 16 pictures each. The inner ring illustrates the signs of the Zodiac and the four cardinal points of the compass. The 16 pictures of the outer ring each have a title, relating to two other pictures on the two inner rings. These are Europe, Asia, Africa and America; Earth, Air, Fire and Water; Electricity, Chemistry, Optics and Astronomy; Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter. Some of the illustrations are quite unusual--fire, for example, is illustrated by a volcano, a burning farm and a pit explosion, and optics is represented by a giant telescope, a magic lantern show and the perspective through a tunnel.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleThe Circle of Knowledge, A New Game of the Wonders of Nature, Science and Art (manufacturer's title)
Materials and techniques
Hand-coloured engraving, mounted on linen
Brief description
Hand coloured educational race game, The Circle of Knowledge, published in England by John Passmore about 1845
Physical description
Design: engraving, coloured by hand; 16 sections mounted on linen; 64 pictures
No. of squares: 64
Squares illustrated: all
Square numbering: all
Squares titled: see rules
Subject of starting square: Europe
Subject of ending square: ?
Dimensions
  • Length: 62.9cm
  • Width: 50.9cm
  • Cover length: 18cm
  • Cover width: 14.8cm
Object history
No rules are available but it is possible that the game was played in a similar manner to the previous games published by E Wallis and J Passmore.
Passmore was at the Fleet Lane address from about 1840 to 1869; in 1847 he took over Wallis's production.

CGG-Games & Puzzles, 1991
Historical context
Rewards: extra turns and forward movement and possibly receipt of counters
Forfeits: missing turns, staying in one place, backwards movement; possibly the payment of counters
No. of Players: any
Equipment required: markers, counters. For spinning a teetotum or dice would be needed, however, as this is a Passmore game it is possible that a card with numbers and blanks together with the letters all to be cut up was provided as given in the previous couple of games. In that case the rules were probably similar.

Rules:
The playing sheet is divided into four concentric circles, three of which contain 16 pictures each. The inner ring illustrates the signs of the Zodiac and the four cardinal points of the compass. The sixteen pictures of the outer ring each have a title, which has a connection with the two other pictures of the two inner rings adjoining.
These are:
1,17,33 Europe 5,21,37 Asia 9,25,41 Africa 13,29,45 America
2,18,34 Earth 6,22,38 Air 10,26,42 Fire 14,30,46 Water
3,19,35 Electricity 7,23,39 Chemistry 11,27,43 Optics 15,31,47 Astronomy
4,20,36 Spring 8,24,40 Summer 12,28,44 Autumn 16,32,48 Winter

Examples of the pictures under these main headings are:
SPRING
4. Dancing round a maypole 20. A Rainbow 36. Birds feeding their young
AIR
6. A Balloon and a Parachute 22. A Shipwrecked Sailing Vessel 38. Windmill
CHEMISTRY
7. Alchemist 23. Scientific Lecture 39. Interior of a chemist's shop
FIRE
10. Volcano 26. Burning Farm 42 Pit Explosion and fire
OPTICS
11. Giant Telescope 27. Perspective of a tunnel 43. Magic Lantern Show
AUTUMN
12. Harvest Supper 28. Hop Picking 44. Pheasant Shooting

Players would progress round the game on the spin of a teetotum or the selection of a numbered card. At each stop, they would be required to describe the events happening in the illustration and it is possible that forfeits and rewards would be given depending on each. It is possible to given forfeits and rewards to each squares and some are more obvious that others such as a fire or ship wreck go backwards or perhaps start again.

*The illustrations are quite unusual - fire, for example, is illustrated by a volcano, a burning farm and a pit explosion, and optics is represented by a giant telescope, a magic lantern show and the perspective of a tunnel.

Rules placement: possibly in booklet
Summary
The playing surface is divided into four concentric circles, three of which contain 16 pictures each. The inner ring illustrates the signs of the Zodiac and the four cardinal points of the compass. The 16 pictures of the outer ring each have a title, relating to two other pictures on the two inner rings. These are Europe, Asia, Africa and America; Earth, Air, Fire and Water; Electricity, Chemistry, Optics and Astronomy; Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter. Some of the illustrations are quite unusual--fire, for example, is illustrated by a volcano, a burning farm and a pit explosion, and optics is represented by a giant telescope, a magic lantern show and the perspective through a tunnel.
Collection
Accession number
E.1784-1954

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Record createdMarch 4, 2000
Record URL
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