1822, William Darton, London, England.
This instructional game depicts events and locations in continental Europe that the English public would have considered fascinating. The board depicts a range of events and activities, from recreational past times (ice skating in the Netherlands, No. 18) to specific events like the atrocities of the Cretan War (1645-69, No. 7). Of the latter, the instructions explain, “The deed here represented is of a horrible nature, yet it seems to relate some historical fact, and therefore merits investigation.”
Selections:
- 11 – Sack of Rome, 1527
- 12 – Eruption of Mount Vesuvius, 79 AD
- 13 – The Grotto del Cani in Naples, famous for its poisonous fumes
- 17 – The Parisian Catacombs
- 19 – Bullfighting in Madrid (also depicted in European Travelers)
- 20 – The burning of Jan Hus, 1415
Gift of Ellen Liman ‘57
