1822, William Darton, London, England.
Travel games of the colonial era reflected ideologies of empire. England wished for its inhabitants to know the extent of its influence, and games like this functioned both as geography primers and fantastic stories, instructing players about the wonders and strangeness of the colonial world. Elephant and Castle requires relatively heavy reading, with more than 80 pages of information describing Asian cultures and customs through an Orientalist lens.
It includes countries like Russia and Turkey in its scope, and shows awareness that the English “have no right to the possession of other nations,” (36) but neglects to discuss the issue further and instead capitalizes on the cultures of colonialism and exoticism portrayed via the imagery on the board.
Selected spaces:
2. “Kamtschadale Travelling.”
6. “Chinese Making Tea.”
9. “Fakiers in India.”
20. “Portrait of a Circassian.”
22. “Portrait of a Baschkir.”
Gift of Ellen Liman ‘57
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