The Great American FLAG Game – Parker Brothers. New York – Chicago, 1940 – First Edition. Inside the box are congratulatory remarks from Colonel James A. Moss addressing the decisive days during which the game was created: “In these critical days, when the ideals and institutions symbolized by the American flag are threatened by foreign influences.”
Complete game includes:
Game board: 54×42 cm.
United States flag with a wooden base.
Four “soldiers” in blue, red, white, and green.
37 wooden tokens.
Spinner.
Instruction sheet.
Inside the box, printed are the remarks of Colonel James A. Moss, a retired U.S. Army officer, celebrating the game’s release:
“Parker Brothers, Game Manufacturers, Salem, Massachusetts. Gentlemen: I have examined with great interest the flag game that you were kind enough to send us, and I want to congratulate you on its excellence and timeliness. In these decisive days, when the ideals and institutions symbolized by the American flag are threatened by foreign influences, the more our people know about this flag, the stronger the spirit of Americanism will be. Your splendid flag game will teach, in an interesting and entertaining way, things those who play it did not previously know about their country’s flag. By producing such a flag game at this time, you have performed a patriotic service. Yours sincerely, J.A. Moss, Retired U.S. Army Colonel, General President.”
The objective of the game is to advance along the Line of Stars to the state of Arizona, at the end of the path. Players earn one wooden token for correctly naming state capitals along the way. Tokens are collected at various points during the game. The first player to reach the end of the path with an exact count finishes the game for all. The player holding the largest number of tokens when the game ends wins. The illustrations on the board depict various scenes from American history between 1787 and 1912. Following the game’s success, several versions were released over the years. Presented here is the rare first edition.
Light tears on the box. Overall good condition.
