Tag: 1940s

After the four releases seen in 1936, only one type survived for the next decade – the Box & Board. All dates here are estimates.

1942

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

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:

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.