"The Travellers; or, A Tour Through Europe"

Subject: Cartographic Game, Europe
Period: 1842 (dated)
Color: Hand Color
Size: 18.6 x 24.1

This is the first edition of William Spooner's charming geographical game, which was created to both entertain and instruct young learners on Europe, northern Africa, and the Near East. The game board is filled with vignettes of key cities, landmarks, and common activities of various regions. In Russia one finds a "Finlander attacking a bear," a "Laplander's Hut," and a "Russian & Sledge," while in the North Atlantic there is a scene showing the "perils of the whale fishery." The game is played by five "travellers" from Austria, Sweden, Russia, Prussia, and England. Each traveler begins in a city in Africa (marked by the letter S) and must make their way to their respective capital city (marked by the letters A through E in red circles on the board). The game is played with five markers, a pile of counters for each player, and a teetotum with four sides marked N, E, S, and W, representing the direction in which the players must move. Players move along the lines of longitude and latitude, starting and landing at intersections. If a player passes over or near a capital city, they must name the country or forfeit two counters in the pool. Additional instructions to pay or take counters appear throughout the game board. Dissected in 12 segments and mounted on linen, the game board folds into boards with a lithographed pictorial title label on front cover. The original rules booklet and game pieces are not included in the lot.
Condition: B+
Contemporary color with light soiling and some creasing in the bottom corners. The boards are well worn, but intact.