Not currently on display at the V&A

The Multiplication Table in Rhyme, Part 1

Card Game
ca. 1850 (published)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This game has 96 cards, each showing one half of an illustration and one half of a caption. Its aim is to teach multiplication in a fun way. Players must collect both halves and the completed picture should prompt the memory of the particular sum. The example here illustrates '5 times 7 are 35, We're going such a pleasant drive'. The arithmetic might be correct but the grammar is very poor.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleThe Multiplication Table in Rhyme, Part 1 (manufacturer's title)
Materials and techniques
Hand coloured card
Brief description
Boxed educational game, The Multiplication Table in Rhyme, published in England by John Betts about 1850
Physical description
Design: hand coloured lithographs and letterpress
Dimensions
  • Box length: 16.5cm
  • Box width: 10.2cm
  • Box height: 3.8cm
Object history
Arithmetic and music could be taught using cards. It is difficult not to wonder, however, if children really found these games as exciting, amusing or fun as their publishers claimed. Most, but not all, are very pictorial and perhaps parents preferred to buy these card games rather than games which were non educational.
The aim is to collect the two halves - eg. on card shows children in a carriage with 5 TIMES 7/ WE'RE GOING SUCH and the second card has a pony with ARE 35./ A PLEASANT DRIVE. Not exactly a good sentence!
John Betts was at the address from 1845 to 1874.

Games & Puzzles, CGG, 1991
Historical context
Rewards: ?
Forfeits: ?
No. of Players: any
Equipment required: 96 cards, each showing one half of an illustration and one half of a caption
wooden box with sliding lid which has a lithographed pictorial label
Summary
This game has 96 cards, each showing one half of an illustration and one half of a caption. Its aim is to teach multiplication in a fun way. Players must collect both halves and the completed picture should prompt the memory of the particular sum. The example here illustrates '5 times 7 are 35, We're going such a pleasant drive'. The arithmetic might be correct but the grammar is very poor.
Collection
Accession number
E.1813-1954

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Record createdMarch 4, 2000
Record URL
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