Description
Author: Ash, Thomas T.
Title: United States
Place Published: Philadelphia
Publisher:Thos. T. Ash
Date Published: c.1830
Description:
Engraved map of the United States for use as a game; hand-colored. 31.5x40.2 cm (12½x15¾"), backed with linen and sectioned for folding; slipcase and instructions not present.
Rare, early American board game on a map of the United States extending to 37° west of Washington. As Warren Heckrotte describes, "A large number of towns and locations (101) are indicated by a circle with a number inside. Each circle, except for beginning and end towns, is connected with two others by two close parallel lines (looking like a road). The game is played by spinning a teetotum or a roll of dice and advancing the number of steps indicated by the teetotum. Washington is number 1 and Baltimore is number 101. The numbers range as far west as the Rocky Mountains (number 58). Texas is number 35. This is just a game of chance. Unlike Lockwood's game, also offered in this auction, this does not require exercising any geographical knowledge, though some is sure to seep in. The date was estimated by the presence of Ft. Dearborn and not Chicago and the presence of Arkansas Territory before it was truncated but it may be a few years later. This is an early American map game. Rare. Lockwood's appears to be the first." OCLC/WorldCat lists a 345-page book with a map, published by Ash, "The traveller's tour through the United States: a pleasing and instructive pastime, performed with a tetotum and travellers: All the principal cities are visited and described," 1835, at the Library Company of Philadelphia, which seems to correspond to the present map; and also a copy of a map by Ash, "United States," 1833, which may be this same map but there is no mention of game features, residing at Harvard.
Condition
Buyer's Premium
- 23%
0137: Map game of U.S. c.1830
Sold for $700
•5 BidsLot 0137 Details
Author: Ash, Thomas T.
Title: United States
Place Published: Philadelphia
Publisher:Thos. T. Ash
Date Published: c.1830
Description:
Engraved map of the United States for use as a game; hand-colored. 31.5x40.2 cm (12½x15¾"), backed with linen and sectioned for folding; slipcase and instructions not present.
Rare, early American board game on a map of the United States extending to 37° west of Washington. As Warren Heckrotte describes, "A large number of towns and locations (101) are indicated by a circle with a number inside. Each circle, except for beginning and end towns, is connected with two others by two close parallel lines (looking like a road). The game is played by spinning a teetotum or a roll of dice and advancing the number of steps indicated by the teetotum. Washington is number 1 and Baltimore is number 101. The numbers range as far west as the Rocky Mountains (number 58). Texas is number 35. This is just a game of chance. Unlike Lockwood's game, also offered in this auction, this does not require exercising any geographical knowledge, though some is sure to seep in. The date was estimated by the presence of Ft. Dearborn and not Chicago and the presence of Arkansas Territory before it was truncated but it may be a few years later. This is an early American map game. Rare. Lockwood's appears to be the first." OCLC/WorldCat lists a 345-page book with a map, published by Ash, "The traveller's tour through the United States: a pleasing and instructive pastime, performed with a tetotum and travellers: All the principal cities are visited and described," 1835, at the Library Company of Philadelphia, which seems to correspond to the present map; and also a copy of a map by Ash, "United States," 1833, which may be this same map but there is no mention of game features, residing at Harvard.
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