Snakes and Ladders
Board Game
1958-1963 (published)
1958-1963 (published)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
When it was originally devised, Snakes and Ladders was a moral game. The virtues, in the shape of ladders allowed the players to reach heaven quickly. The snakes were the vices for which the players were punished by having to move backwards. The game is generally considered to be a version of the Indian Moksha-Patamu religious instruction game. This English version just has the ladders and snakes but retains the older style spiral design with the end space in the centre of the game.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Snakes and Ladders (manufacturer's title) |
| Materials and techniques | Chromolithographed paper on card |
| Brief description | Card board game of Snakes and Ladders made in England by J & L Randall between 1958 and 1963 |
| Physical description | Design: chromolithograph mounted on card, folded in half; back covered with red paper and showing a label illustrating snakes and ladders. The playing surface is in a spiral format. No. of squares: 142 Squares illustrated: none Square numbering: all Squares titled: none Subject of starting square: says ` start` Subject of ending square: says ` game' |
| Dimensions |
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| Production type | Mass produced |
| Object history | marks: A MERIT GAME PUBLISHED BY J & L RANDALL LTD MADE IN ENGLAND The company was founded in 1940, became a private company in 1958 and a public company in 1963 CGG-Games & Puzzles, 1991 |
| Historical context | Rewards: forward movement along the ladders Forfeits: backward movement along the snakes No. of Players: any Equipment required: markers, dice and dice thrower; all available in original box Rules placement: none |
| Summary | When it was originally devised, Snakes and Ladders was a moral game. The virtues, in the shape of ladders allowed the players to reach heaven quickly. The snakes were the vices for which the players were punished by having to move backwards. The game is generally considered to be a version of the Indian Moksha-Patamu religious instruction game. This English version just has the ladders and snakes but retains the older style spiral design with the end space in the centre of the game. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | MISC.40-1977 |
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| Record created | March 4, 2000 |
| Record URL |
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