"The Travellers of Europe; with Improvements and Additions",

This charming geographical game was created by William Spooner to both entertain and instruct young learners on Europe and northern Africa. The game board is filled with vignettes of key cities, landmarks, and common activities of various regions. In Russia one finds "Finlanders attacking bears" and "sledge travelling," while in the North Atlantic 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 in red circles) 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. This game was first published in 1842, with this second edition appearing a decade later and with "improvements and additions." Dissected in 9 segments and mounted on linen, the game board folds into blue cloth-covered boards with a lithographed pictorial title label on front cover. Ribbon closure and original rules booklet not present, however a photocopy of the rules is included.

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Condition: B+

Map and covers are lightly soiled. Title label is toned with a few small abrasions.