EARLY CHASE GAME - Historical Pastime. A New Game of the History of England. Published by E. Wallis, No. 42 Skinner Street and J. Harris & Son, St. Paul's Church Yard, London. [1832].
A large rectangular engraved sheet game mounted in sections on original linen backing, carefully and prettily hand coloured throughout, 48 x 47.5cm, consisting of a roundel portrait of William IV in ceremonial robes along side a decorative cornucopia-type scroll surrounded by concentric rings engraved pictorial discs depicting famous labelled historical events and royal figures, largely dated, complete with the original marbled paper covered card slipcase with engraved publisher's pictorial label to one side, "A New Game of the History of England from William 1st to William 4th" the sheet game with some browning and surface dusting and marking and browning and light staining to the reverse, as usual, but, overall, in very good condition, with none of the oft-found splitting to folds, the slipcase with general dusting and light wear, and small fraying, to edges. Both slipcase and the reverse of the game sheet with a small, and neat, early ink inscription, "o/s May 1895" sold without the publisher's accompanying rule book, which is frequently absent.
Second issue of this famous sheet game with the original portrait of George IV replaced with one of William IV, which, otherwise, is an exact reproduction (Whitehouse 29). Both this edition and the preceding one are undated and for both the final circle on the game track, number 132, records the death of Queen Caroline. A third printing of the game, issued slightly later, adds two additional circles to the route (No 133. William IV, 1830 and 134. Abolition of Slavery, and the central portrait is a youthful Queen Victoria. The first edition of this game was published circa 1828.
