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The Noble Game of Elephant and Castle or Travelling in Asia

Board Game
1822 (published)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This is a particularly attractive race game with an interesting use of an elephant's body to illustrate the playing surface. There are only 24 playing spaces, but the rules booklet has 84 pages packed with information covering Asian customs, events and persons of note. The purpose of the game as set out in its subtitle is to combine 'amusement with instruction for youth of both sexes'.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Board Game
  • Rule Book
TitleThe Noble Game of Elephant and Castle or Travelling in Asia (manufacturer's title)
Materials and techniques
Hand-coloured engraved paper on linen
Brief description
Hand coloured geographical game, Elephant and Castle, published in England by William Darton in 1822
Physical description
Design: engraving, coloured by hand
No. of squares: 25
Squares illustrated: all
Square numbering: all
Squares titled: in booklet
Dimensions
  • Length: 49.5cm
  • Width: 40.5cm
Object history
playing surface shows an elephant, surmounted by a houdah and Indian. 24 compartments depicting a custom, event or personnage from Asia. Slip case of card with a coloured engraved label of an elephant and 2 natives in a landscape.
The game stresses learning through reading as the booklet has 84 pages of text to accompany 24 compartments.
CGG-Games & Puzzles, 1991
Historical context
Rewards: extra turns
Forfeits: missing one to 4 turns when counters are used; backward movement when instructed; reading from booklet
No. of Players: 1-3; or 6
Equipment required: marker or pyramid for each player; teetotum marked 1 to 8 and four counters for each player in different colours

Rules placement: booklet, published by george smallfield, hackney
Production
Rules booklet published by George Smallfield, Hackney
Summary
This is a particularly attractive race game with an interesting use of an elephant's body to illustrate the playing surface. There are only 24 playing spaces, but the rules booklet has 84 pages packed with information covering Asian customs, events and persons of note. The purpose of the game as set out in its subtitle is to combine 'amusement with instruction for youth of both sexes'.
Collection
Accession number
CIRC.231&A-1964

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Record createdMarch 4, 2000
Record URL
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