50th Anniversary (1985)
60th Anniversary (1995)
70th Anniversary [USA] (2005)
80th Anniversary (2015)
85th Anniversary (2020)
Category: Standard (Page 2 of 2)
Four Monopoly Deluxe editions have been produced for the UK audience since 1972. A long-box in 1972, a smaller edition in 1986 and 1998 and a final edition in 2003. This collection features all four of these editions plus a special adaptation of the 1972 edition created for the British Monopoly Championship.
The upgrades usually consist of gold tokens, a title deed carrousel, premium banking tray and wooden houses & hotels.
| Edition | Tokens | Title Deed | Houses & Hotels |
| 1972 | 6 Gold | Carrousel | Plastic |
| 1986 | 6 Gold | Carrousel | Wood |
| 1998 | 10 Gold | Stand | Wood |
| 2003 | 10 Gold | Stand | Wood (wood colour Houses) |
Monopoly Deluxe (1972)
1975 – Presented for the British Monopoly Championship
Read more about it here: 1975 Deluxe
Monopoly Deluxe (1986)
Monopoly Deluxe (1998)
Monopoly Deluxe (2003)
This is the latest ‘Monopoly Deluxe’. Although other ‘Deluxe’-style games have been produced since – such as the Anniversary editions.
Another poll was taken for a new token line-up. This time, all eight tokens were at risk, with 56 ready to take their place. Ultimately, five tokens survived – Racecar, Battleship, Top Hat and Dog. The Thimble, Wheelbarrow and Boot were all retired. The victorious three new tokens were the Rubber Ducky, Penguin and T-Rex
2017 – ‘0317’
2017 – September Reprint
Reprinted in 2017
Date code: 0917
NEW TOKEN LINE-UP! label dropped from the box
Box depth decreased from 51 mm to 42 mm
2018 – Grab the Flying Cash
2020
Reprinted in 2020
GRAB THE FLYING CASH label dropped from the box
New style of Houses and Hotels (quality appears to have decreased)
Promotional for Monopoly Cash Grab (2017)
From 2008, green boxes were used instead of the previous white standard/square boxes. The token line-up was reduced to eight from ten with the retirement of the Cannon and Horse & Rider. This also saw the introduction of the Speed Die
2008 – Parker
2009 – Hasbro
The photographed edition is from 2009, one year after the new design. The only difference is branding. This edition has Hasbro branding on the bottom right of the box cover. The 2008 saw Parker branding. Parker branding remains on the board
2011 (Re-Print)
Everything remains identical apart from the side of the box. 2011 saw the copyright information slightly change. As shown by the first photo the first four digits of the production code change from 1009 to 0411 – these numbers indicate the month and year of production (MM/YY format).
2013 – Cat Replaces the Iron
A poll was held in 2013 – ‘Save Your Token’. The eight tokens were voted upon and the least popular, Iron, was retired from the game. Another poll was held at the same time to choose between introducing either: robot, ring, cat, guitar or helicopter. Ultimately, the Cat topped the poll. The Cat would also appear on the box cover for some releases.
2015 – Cat on the Box
Contents remain identical. The Cat now joins the Dog on the Box Cover
2015 – 80th Anniversary
An addition token was included to celebrate the 80th Anniversary of Monopoly – the Mr Monopoly token
Waddington’s was acquired by Hasbro in 1994. The next release in 1996 introduced the standard sized box. 2006 saw the first square box, the box type currently used to this day. The significant change was the tokens. In this era, Monopoly was advertised for up to eight players. The new line-up include: Thimble, Hat, Iron, Racecar, Boot, Battleship, Wheelbarrow, Dog, Cannon and Horse & Rider. The last two would be dropped just 12 years later in 2008.
1996
2002
2003
Identical production code to ‘2003 – Quick Rules’. The only difference is the side of the box.
2003 – Quick Rules
2006 – Square Box
From 1957, the Box & Board editions were phased out with a long box which contained the board as well as the pieces. Each edition sees slight variance – mainly with regards to the Chance & Community Chest cards. The photographs best show the evolution. Once again all dates are estimates. The following six tokens would also become a mainstay of the Long Red Box – with the introduction of the Dog
1957
Last standard Monopoly edition to feature the 6 flat metal tokens, as well as wooden houses and hotels.
1961
The six tokens return to the line-up. Although, I have also seen red long box editions with the previous six flat metal tokens used a few years prior.
1962
1972 – John Waddington Ltd
The board is unusually folded between Marylebone and Liverpool St Station across the Monopoly logo, as opposed to the usual Kings Cross to Fenchurch St Station.
1972 – Waddingtons House of Games Rebrand
There are very few differences between this edition and the previous 1972 edition. Both contains the same pieces and design. Before 1984, John Waddington Ltd was rebranded to Waddingtons House of Games. The box reflects this change even if the design remains identical. Now ‘Manufactured in England’ rather than ‘Manufactured in Great Britain’. Also interesting is that the board has changed back to being folded through Marylebone and Liverpool St Station, and is now folded through Kings Cross and Fenchurch St Station.
1984
1987
1993
After the four releases seen in 1936, only one type survived for the next decade – the Box & Board. All dates here are estimates.
1943
By 1943, different coloured Chance & Community Chest cards were used. The Wartime Notice paper has been downgraded to an overprint on the instructions. These instructions are marked with the code ‘1946 J’. Also unusually, this is the only time other tokens were included. A mix of thin and wide wood tokens were used instead – taken from Waddington’s 64 Milestones board game.
Incomplete Edition of the 64 Milestones Game – wooden pawn tokens
Another example of a 1943:
1944
World War II had broken out within Europe in 1939 – and supplies of all materials were low. This meant the Waddington’s had to change the materials used for Monopoly. The tradition tokens were replaced with cardboard tokens with a wood base. The quality of the wood used for Houses & Hotels were also downgraded. The paper used for money was downgraded, and only printed on one side. Dice were replaced by a paper spinner. This photographed edition can be identified as being from 1942 due to:
- L.N.E.R Stations
- Perforated Title Deeds
- Wooden tokens with black base
- Money printed on white paper
- Different colour Chance/Community Chest cards
- ‘War Time Pack’ note
- Spinner
- Box height reduced from 33mm to 26mm
1945 – ‘4290 H’
Cardboard tokens return. Chance & Community Chest cards are both green. Instructions marked with ‘4290 H’
1945 – Rainbow Chance Cards
This date of this set is estimated to be 1945 – potentially produced to celebrate the conclusion of World War II. The main point of interest are the Chance and Community Chest cards. The Chance Cards have a rainbow pattern – a design which is unique to this set. Both the Chance and Community Chest are numbered from 1 to 16. The second Chance Card – ‘Speeding Fine £15’ has an error with the text – Instead of CHANCE, it is printed CHANGE.
1948 – British Railway
World War II finished three years prior to this edition being released, however there were still many shortages. The tokens have been upgraded to coloured cardboard with coloured bases. The quality of Houses & Hotels has also significantly improved. Double-sided money starts to return – although I have also seen editions with the old single-sided war money. Chance and Community Chest card become orange and pink. Dice also return!
Railways are no longer labelled L.N.E.R. and are now ‘British Railways’ – due to nationalisation in 1948. This causes the first minor change to boards in this era.
1954/55 – Trademark Granted
Cardboard tokens are replaced by flat metal transport-themed tokens – train, bike, tank, tractor, car and ship. Patent 453689 expired in November 1952 – Trademark 711981 was granted in June 1954. This new number appears on the box and board. The instructions remain marked with 2 1/2 d stamp
Instruction are marked with 3d stamp. The side of the mini box has changed from black to red.
After the initial launch in 1936, Monopoly would remain very similar with regards to the contents until World War II broke out in 1939 and affected the production of many materials required for the original Monopoly set. However, during this small period of Monopoly history – patent applied for was dropped from the box.
1938/39
The box remains 33mm deep, however it now has Patent No 453689 instead of Patent Applied For No 3796/36. Due to an excess production of Monopoly money, the bank notes continued with Pat App instead of the new number. The metal tokens continue. Two sets of instructions have been photographed – both marked 1 1/2 d – there is a minor difference to the design.
1937/38/39 – Info Unknown
Currently information is incomplete about this edition. It appears to be from 1937/38. However, there are many differences between this edition and the standard 1936 editions.
- The box is green – but still has MONOPOLY printed on
- The title deeds have been printed black and white (and the top highlighted – with the exception of pink) – The Mortgage side is also black as opposed to red
- The Chance/Community Chest cards are glossy on the text side and matte on the reverse
Otherwise, the rules are standard 1930s rules. The money is also Pat Pending. The orange slip about other editions for sale is included. Therefore, this all appears to suggest it is from late 1930s.
It is lacking tokens and a board. A card with rent prices is also included – although this may have been added later. Moreover, there is an excess of houses and hotels.
If you have any information about this set, please contact callum@richunclepennybags.co.uk
Monopoly arrived in the UK in 1936 – produced by Waddington’s. Four editions were manufactured and sold. However, all of these had some similarities. Compared to later releases, all feature the words ‘Patent Applied For No 3796/36’ – which was applied for on 7th February 1936 by Parker Brothers (USA). The patent was not granted until 16th September 1936, although Patent 453689 was not branded on boxes until c1939.
Box & Board (7’6)
The mini box & board edition was one of two standard editions released in 1936. It originally costed 7’6. The small box with a separate board became the default option until the 1950s when the long box took over. The tokens were a thimble, hat, iron, car, boot and battleship. The six tokens represented household life – with the battleship being included as they were mass produced for Parker Brother’s failed game Conflict. Houses and Hotels are made by wood.
Long Box (10’6)
This long box standard edition originally cost 10’6. It contains exactly the same content as the box & board edition. However, this version has a long box which holds the contents as well as the board.
Super Gold Set (21′-)
The Super Gold Set originally cost 21′ – twice the price of a standard long box. The box is gold coloured and has a better tray within the box for using as the bank. The tokens include a better design of the car, a tram, bathtub, lamppost and lantern, as well as the classic battleship, thimble and boot. This edition now sells online for £60 to £100 depending on condition
Pictured below: Houses and Hotels made from Bakelite. The Hotels are ‘GRAND HOTELS’. These Houses and Hotels featured in both the Super Gold and the Deluxe Presentation Sets.
Deluxe Presentation Set (42′-)
This luxury edition originally cost 42′ – twice the price of the Super Gold Set and four times the price of the best Standard Set. It has a deluxe presentation box – which is faux snakeskin, this was very popular for deluxe board games of this era. The hotels are branded as ‘Grand Hotels’, identical to the hotels seen with the USA’s Popular Edition, also of 1936. The tokens are the same as the Super Gold Set, with the addition of the elephant – another feature taken from deluxe USA editions. The edition photographed is currently available for purchase for £1,995!
Note Holders (2’6)
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