Hand coloured moral race game, The Mansion of Happiness, published in England by Laurie & Whittle in 1800

Design: engraving, coloured by hand; 12 sections mounted on linen showing 66 compartments representing virtues and vices with Oakland park in the centre; clockwise from top left corner
No. of squares: 67
Squares illustrated: all
Square numbering: 1 to 67
Squares titled: all
Subject of starting square: Justice
Subject of ending square: Mansion of Happiness

see also E. 1755, 1756, 1757, 1758-1954.
US version published by W & SB Ives Company, 1843; thought to be the first US board game. Ives also assumed the title of first to invent folding boards but these were in existence in England and Europe before this date. See Antique Toy World, Sept. 1988

CGG GAMES AND PUZZLES, 1991

Rewards: receipt of counters, forward movements, extra turns
Forfeits: payment of counters, backward movement, missing turns
No. of Players: any
Equipment required: dice, markers and counters

Rules:
EXPLANATION OF THE GAME
Having a box and a pair of dice, each person who plays, should be furnished with a dozen counters, the value of which is to be agreed on and when the Amusement is over for the night, each person is to be accountable for the same, those who want more must buy a winner. Each person should also be furnished with another counter with the initial of his/her name thereon (or any other letter judged most proper for distinction) which is to be placed over the number thrown and moved agreeable to the following rules:
NB Paying a fine of 1,2,3 is meant so many counters and by 1 or 2 months is meant the person must wait 'till the box has passed him so many times.
RULES OF THE GAME
1. Whoever comes to the Water No 6 must pay one for being ferried over and go to No. 10.
2. Whoever arrives at the Inn No 9 must pay one for taking refreshments and go to No. 12.
3. Whoever posseses Piety, Honesty, Sobriety, Gratitude, Prudence, Truth Chastity, Sincerity, Humility, Industry, Charity, Humanity, Generosity is entitled to advance six towards the Mansion of Happiness.
4. Whoever posses Audacity, Cruelity, Immodesty or Ingratitude must return to his former situation, till his turn comes to throw again and not even think of happiness much less partake of it.
5. Poverty, the Whipping Post, Bridewell, the Pillory, the Stocks, Newgate, and Ruin are to be considered as blanks in your progress to the Mansion: for it would be cruel to punish a person merely passing such a place; therefore, till one is found guilty of a crime, he cannot be fined or sent to either.
6. Whoever gets in a Passion must be taken to the Water, have a ducking to cool him and pay a fine of one.
7. Whoever gets into Idleness must come to Poverty.
8. Whoever gets into the Road to Folly must return to Prudence.
9. Whoever becomes a Liar, Swearer and Breaker of the Sabbath, must be taken to the Whipping Post and Whipt, and pay a fine of one.
10. Whoever becomes a Cheat, must be sent to Bridewell for one moth, pay a fine of one and when at liberty begin the game again.
11. Whoever becomes a Perjurer must be put in the Pillory and pay a fine of one.
12. Whoever becomes a drunkard, must be put in the stocks and pay a fine of one.
13. Whoever becomes a robber must be sent to Newgate for two months, pay a fine of two and when at liberty begin the game again.
14. Whoever arrives at the summit of dissipation, must go to ruin and pay a fine of three.
15. Whoever is confined to Bridewell or Newgate, cannot be relieved till his allotted time expires or some person guilty of the same crime is sent there.
16. When two persons come together, the last thrower must take possession of the place from whence he came and not pay one; except, first, when two come together and the last thrower is found guilty of an offence, He after having pad his fine, must take the place of the former, without paying more; the other person must advance or return (if not a cheat or robber, see rule 10 and 13) to the original place of the last thrower, and not pay any. - Secondly when two come together at Bridewell or Newgate, and one is confined for a crime; in that case as the last thrower cannot relieve the person confined, he must return to the place from whence he cane and throw again, before he must remain as he was.
17. Whoever arrives at 67 The Mansion of Happiness, wins the game; but if he throws over he must begin the game again.

Under the central compartment is an eight line verse about vice and virtue.

Note: The publishers dedicated the game to the Duchess of York, 1800, and the Mansion of Happiness is a representation of Oatlands Park, the residence of the Duke of York.

*While most early board games bear the names of the publishers and the date of publishcation, few attest to the actual inventer if, of course, there was one. However, within the space of about one year, two moral games were `invented' by one man, George Fox, although the publishers of the games differ. The first game, THE MANSION OF HAPPINESS, is a hand coloured engraving published by Laurie and Whittle on 13.10,1800 with 67 compartments, which represent various virtues and vices together with, in the centre, 67, a view of Oaklands Park. The game is very harch compared with the others. The `crimes' are serious - theft, lying, drunkenness, cheating - and the punishments include prison sentences, whipping, the stocks and ducking - `Whoever gets into a Passion must be taken to the Water, have a ducking tocool him and pay a fine of one'.

Rules placement: on either side of the centre illustration

The publishers dedicated this game to the then Duchess of York, and the Mansion of Happiness itself is a representation of Oatlands Park, the residence of the Duke of York. The game is very strict compared to other moral games of the same period. The crimes are serious--theft, lying, drunkenness, cheating--and the punishments include prison sentences, whipping, the stocks and ducking: 'Whoever gets into a Passion must be taken to the Water, have a ducking to cool him and pay a fine of one.'

While most early board games bear the names of the publishers and the date of publication, few indicate any inventor if, of course, there was one. The Mansion of Happiness however does have an inventor, George Fox. A version of this game is considered to be the first board game produced in the United States, published by W & S B Ives in 1843.

E.1754-1954