Monopoly came out in 1935, and has achieved international fame, selling 275 million copies as of 2015, across 113 different countries and 46 languages. The player tries to drive their competitors into bankruptcy. Popular sayings such as “Do not pass go, do not collect $200” arose from the game.
Monopoly was based on the Landlord’s Game, created by Lizzie Magie in 1903-4.
Charles Darrow copied the key gameplay elements from Magie’s game, but claimed it as his own for Monopoly. Today Magie is credited as the inventor with help from several others in her circle. That did not happen until decades after Magie’s death in 1948 at age 81. Her patents for the Landlord’s Game were discovered by economics professor Ralph Anspach in the 1970s, and she was posthumously credited. Darrow’s name has been sullied. Today Monopoly is credited to Magie, with artwork contributions by Darrow.
Here is a vintage 1930s Monopoly board.
Here is a 1906 Landlord’s Game board.
Justice for Lizzie! She made the game as a warning of capitalism and then a man stole it and used capitalism to line his own pockets.
This is one of my favorite stories from history, thanks for sharing!
Danny Dutch wrote a very nice article on the subject:
https://www.utterlyinteresting.com/post/elizabeth-magie-and-the-real-origins-of-monopoly-a-legacy-of-creativity-and-theftThanks. I’m relieved to see I got it more or less right! (Pieced together from several different sources). I always try, but mistakes happen.
You go above and beyond from what I can see. As we just talked about yesterday, I think it was.
I have a monopoly edition that looks very much like that 1930’s set, maybe one design iteration later (and with dutch streets and cities). The icons look very similar. I never knew about the landlord game, I think it looks very cool. thanks for sharing!
The older game is somehow more dystopian
The original explains why you’re sent to jail. I’d always wondered.
