Nostalgia Games

This page has a few of everything, to whet your appetite, so scroll down for a look. I'm afraid I haven't a search facility but it's quick to look through the pages and almost every game etc mentioned has a photo. If you're looking for anything that isn't showing, email me and I'll see if I can find it - or I might even have it, hiding somewhere in my stock room.

OSCAR

This is always a popular board game with its twelve 1940's film stars, its 'fine living' and its own Oscar! There is a large board - in great condition, in this case - with a smaller box containing 'money', cards, playing pieces including dice and Oscar as well as the rule sheet.
The board is illustrated with lots of great pictures showing the rise to fame of a film star and is superbly coloured. PRICE: £95.00

TIT-BITS TEASER PUZZLE

This is the first of three Tit-Bits puzzles I have on offer - the others are further down this page. This first one is probably the earliest as it has no number (unlike the others).
It comes in a cardboard box with instructions on the lid, the seller (George Newnes Ltd), the price (6 old pence to anyone who remembers) and MADE IN USA. Inside the box are nine little pieces of wood which have been cut and rubbed down so there are no sharp bits. The idea is to move the big square block from the top left corner to the bottom left corner without jumping over or lifting up any of the others - in other words it's a sequential movement puzzle - as are the other two. The cardboard box and lid and the wooden pieces are all in remarkably good condition for objects made in the first half of the twentieth century. PRICE: £10.00

PETER RABBIT'S RACE GAME

This is a much-sought-after game with its lead figures of Peter Rabbit, Jemima Puddleduck, Mr.Toad and Squirrel Nutkin and a three-fold board game. The unpainted figures are in quite good condition (Peter has sadly lost an ear). The board is scuffed on the edges and the paper on the inside of its folds has split but it is, nevertheless, in very good, playable condition and at this price, even a collector would find it good value! PRICE: £75.00 (for a better photo!! please email me and I'll try harder)
KEEP GOING!

BUCCANEER GAME

This is an early boxed set with separate board. The ships are there with their sails and some toothpicks to attach the sails. Many of the jewels remain along with barrels and two sets of cards but only one "gold bar" is there. There is a large square hole in the centre of the board where you put the "Treasure Island" (a cardboard box with all the treasure in) and a set of rules which I've copied off the internet because the original ones are lost. The whole lot is in remarkably good condition considering it must date to the middle of the twentieth century if not before. PRICE: £70.00

THE FAVORITE - THE NEW MECHANICAL RACE GAME

This is by Glevum and is rather like Escalado without the long mat. There are four lead horses ridden by jockeys (one of whom has lost his head!), wire clips and a Winning Post. The game dates to the late 20's or 30's and is in good condition in its original box with the instructions in the lid and good graphics on the lid. PRICE: GBP 30.00
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THREE CARD GAMES

These two games have nothing in common! First is WORLD WEDDINGS by William Sessions Ltd of York. This appears to be quite a rare game as I can find no mention of it anywhere in books or on-line. It consists of sets of four - two men and two women - from twelve countries. Of the two men and two women there are two with colour and two black and white. The two coloured cards of a country comprise a "society wedding" and the others a "quiet wedding". The object is to get pairs or fours of a country. There is a rule sheet (thankfully). Everything is in very good condition though the box is a little tatty. PRICE: £25.00

And second is WOODLAND HAPPY FAMILIES is a Pepys game with illustrations by Racey Helps. The cards, rules and box are all in good condition. PRICE: £15.00
sold

I've found another set of ENGLAND EXPECTS. This is in quite good condition although there are several bent cards and the box it tatty and taped. The rules are all there as are the cards. PRICE: £20.00

FOR MORE CARD GAMES, SEE LIST TO THE LEFT FOR MORE PAGES OF CARD GAMES

SPILLI-WOBBLE

This is a child's game of skill made c. 1910. There are two stands each with 4 'cups' on springs, eight balls, each with two metal pins in, and two magnets contained in springs on the end of wooden handles. The object of the game is to get the balls of your colour onto your stand by using the magnets. The magnets seem to have lost their magnetism and one ball (celluloid, I believe) is crushed but on the whole, the game is in excellent condition. The box is lovely (with one end mended on the inside where it doesn't show). PRICE: £40.00
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TIT-BITS TEASER NO. 2

Here's no. 2 of the lot. It differs from the one above in that it comes in a bigger box (which has a few splits in the sides of the lid) and the idea is to get the big block (which is a plane) to 'Paris' (the lower right corner). On the inside bottom of the box it says that the solution to the puzzle will be published in Tit-bits on a certain date, but it doesn't mention the year. PRICE: £10.00

TWEEDLEDUM AND TWEEDLEDEE

And, here's another Spear's game made in Bavaria. This one says it was registered in 1897 (Reg nr. 304585) though I doubt that this set is quite that old. There are two little "men" made up of wooden pieces - one predominately orange, the other purple. They have both been painted by hand with gorgeous faces. There are three "lifters" (there should be four) and the rules in the lid. The box, the men and the three remaining lifters are in wonderful shape. PRICE: £35.00 (EMAIL IF YOU'D LIKE A PHOTO OF THE "MEN")

SALTA - EARLY 20TH CENTURY GAME

This looks a very interesting game and comes with a set of rules which also explains the background of the game - the original rules are missing as are the 'sticks' (which may not have been included in this set, as I've had two identical sets, now, without sticks). The board is good, the pieces excellent. The box, which opens rather like a book cover, is in very good condition for a game which comes from the early 1900's. PRICE: £25.00

NEVER TOO HURRIED FOR A FRIENDLY WORD

This, of course, is my motto but as well it's the name of this 200 piece Chad Valley jigsaw which comes in a green book box. It was made in 1932 and shows a group of hunters enjoying a drink or two. The puzzle is complete and in good condition. PRICE: £20.00 RESERVED

TWO PEACOCK PUZZLE SOUVENIRS

These two little wooden puzzles were made by Peacock sometime before they sold to Chad Valley. They are both souvenirs, one of Buckingham Palace, the other of the Union-Castle Line Steamer "Gloucester Castle". Each is complete in its original cardboard folder marked with the Peacock symbol of a peacock and the words "Toys to Teach". The Gloucester Castle was built in Govan in 1911 and sunk by the Germans in 1942. I'd say the puzzle comes before the second war, possibly the 1930's. The Buckingham Palace puzzle is taken from an early 20th century, picture in which there is pictured a very early motor car as well as a cart and pedestrians with a pram. PRICE: £10.00 EACH GLOUCESTER CASTLE sold

DOVER PATROL – INTERNATIONAL SERIES

This is a great tactical game in a series made by HP Gibson & Sons Ltd which includes Tri- Tactics, L’Attaque and Aviation. This one comes in a box covered in a tartan-type paper which also covers the back of the board. The game is complete with all its men on stands, the board and rules. All are in good-to-very good condition, though the rules are a little foxed. The box has split corners but is otherwise good. PRICE: £70.00

SUBBUTEO TABLE CRICKET – DISPLAY EDITION

The lid tells me that this game comes with “00 scale player figures, stumps, balls etc.” This set is from the late 1960’s (there’s a dated price list) and appears to me to be complete and in excellent condition. There are also The Rules, score sheets, and tiny initials which are still on their sheet but which can be carefully cut out and stuck to the players so you can identify the individual players. The game is in great condition as is the box – though it has a little staining on one side. PRICE: £45.00

THE ILLUSIVE BULLET

I think the name should have been the Elusive Bullet but who's to know, nowadays? It's a dexterity puzzle by an unknown maker and the bullet referred to is, in fact, a ball bearing. The game consists of several capsules with ball bearings inside which makes them stand up when manipulated. The idea is to get certain capsules into their spaces and then to get the "Illusive Bullet" into its space. Interestingly, the bullet could possibly escape into the bottom of the game and there is a hole from which you can retrieve it and another to replace it in the top. It's been used but is in very reasonable condition. PRICE: £12.00





I've been finding it very difficult to buy old jigsaws at reasonable prices so, at least for the moment, I'm going to have to concentrate on games and maybe even a few antique toys. That said there are some really nice smaller jigsaws (up to 250 pieces) which are good for an evening or two or some bigger ones which may take a bit longer. There are some good card games and nice looking board games and the old favourites like Monopoly and Totopoly (enquire within!) Why not forego a few hours of telly and do something a bit more constructive?