Word game, 'Treasure Hunt', 67th edition, Cadaco-Ellis, United States, 1949

Boxed word game, consisting of a card box with lid, two internal card trays, 208 'Pieces of Eight' (100 gold, 108 silver), 78 'Treasure Hunt' cards and 403 letter tokens.

The printed card box lid shows on its face a front-facing illustration of a moustachioed pirate captain, wearing a bicorne hat with skull and crossbones detail, and two large earrings. In the background to the right of the captain are the figures of three sailors, walking to the right, equipped for digging: two carry spades, one has a pick. The inside of the lid is printed with the game instructions. Inside the base of the box are two card trays for storing the gaming pieces.

The gaming pieces consist of 403 white card squares, each printed back and front with a large, black capital letter. Some have the same letter on either side, some have successive letters (i.e. D and E). Clues are issued to players using the 78 'Treasure Hunt' cards, which are printed in black capitals on white card. Players' scores are calculated using 'Pieces of Eight': printed paper currency consisting of 100 yellow (i.e. gold) and 108 grey (i.e. silver) notes. It is not clear if the game is complete.

Purchased in 2017 [2017/255].

This is example is of the sixty-seventh edition of Treasure Hunt. The first edition appeared in 1940.

The first edition of 'Treasure Hunt' was produced in 1940, its popularity meant that by 1949, the year this example was made, there were sixty-seven editions. In this pirate-themed game, players must ‘dig’ in the pile of letters in the centre to make words, earning ‘pieces of eight’ in the form of paper currency.

B.14:1 to 8-2017