| With little else to entertain themselves at home, the | | | | Guide say is worth between £800 and |
| Victorians and Edwardians turned to board games to | | | | £1000. |
| pass the long dark evenings and many new and | | | | The most recent record high prices for board games |
| innovative designs were devised to appeal to children | | | | on eBay were for Christmas and specifically Santa |
| and adults alike. But here's the main problem for | | | | Clause related items. Such items, available to buy for a |
| modern day sellers and collectors, because our | | | | short period before Christmas, and subject to heavy |
| ancestors made full use of their typically fussy, | | | | treatment by children and adults, means very few |
| ornately created games, which often comprised many | | | | survive today, even in damaged condition. Another |
| more pieces than today's counterparts. Consequently | | | | reason for often high prices achieved for Santa Claus |
| the majority of games which survived the decades | | | | and other Christmassy board games is their double |
| are usually well worn and rarely complete. So only | | | | category collecting interest, board games and |
| occasionally will you find a perfect condition Victorian | | | | Christmas items being independently very popular |
| or Edwardian board game, and any you do find in | | | | collectibles. |
| good and near or definitely unused condition will | | | | Many early games were housed together in one big |
| commend a hefty premium over their used | | | | box, called a 'compendium' and often home to |
| counterparts. | | | | hundreds of different games each with numerous |
| Throughout their existence board games have been | | | | separate parts. Individual games were often separated |
| made for entertainment and educational purposes, the | | | | from the box, taken elsewhere to be played with and |
| latter often featuring religious leaders, politicians, ships | | | | often got mislaid or lost miles away from their original |
| and historical events. Early board games tied to | | | | source. Consequently the chance of finding a very |
| well-known historical events are quite rare and were | | | | early compendium with games intact and in good |
| produced for a limited period from the event occurring | | | | condition today is a rare event and hence the reason |
| to popular interest declining. A good example is the | | | | you'll find the best preserved originals with contents all |
| 'Centennial Presidential Game' produced in 1876 by | | | | present and correct fetching several thousand pounds |
| McLoughlin Brothers of New York which included a | | | | even at local auction. But if you fancy a risk, those |
| board with 54 cards, together with a wood board | | | | items can easily double or further increase the price |
| spinner and instructions, which Millers' Collectables Price | | | | you paid when resold on eBay. |