Not currently on display at the V&A

Sorry

Board Game
1930s (published)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

John Waddington Ltd first published Sorry towards the end of the 1920s and applied for the patent in 1929. It was described in the United States in 1934 as most fashionable and largest selling game in England. The aim of the game, like that in Ludo, is to move four playing pieces around the board to reach Home. In Sorry the moves are governed by the draw of a card rather than the throw of dice.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleSorry (manufacturer's title)
Materials and techniques
Printed paper and card
Brief description
Colour printed board game, Sorry, made in England by John Waddington Ltd in the 1930s
Physical description
Design: printed card playing surface, folded. backed with purple paper
No. of squares: 50 +
Squares illustrated: none
Square numbering: none
Squares titled: some
Subject of starting square: marked
Subject of ending square: marked
Dimensions
  • Height: 37.5cm
  • Width: 37.5cm
Copy number
Reg. Design no. 748,776
Credit line
Given by Miss I. B. McClure
Object history
John Waddinton Ltd published Sorry towards the end of the 1920s and it appeared in Parker Bros catalogue in 1934, classified as the most fashion
able and largest selling game in England. (Robert Barton purchased the rights to manufacture and distribute the game in the USA.) The aim is the same as Ludo - that is to move four markers around the board to reach HOME - but in Sorry the moves are governed by the draw of a card rather than the throw of a dice.
Box stamped Truscott's Library Bookseller & Stationers, Bideford, 3/-
CGG-Games & Puzzles, 1991
Historical context
Rewards: extra turns
Forfeits: missed turns
No. of Players: 4
Equipment required: markers, two sets of special cards

Rules placement: booklet
Summary
John Waddington Ltd first published Sorry towards the end of the 1920s and applied for the patent in 1929. It was described in the United States in 1934 as most fashionable and largest selling game in England. The aim of the game, like that in Ludo, is to move four playing pieces around the board to reach Home. In Sorry the moves are governed by the draw of a card rather than the throw of dice.
Collection
Accession number
MISC.298-1986

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Record createdMarch 4, 2000
Record URL
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