Circa 1843 - 1845 Hand-colored CARD GAME of DR. BUSBY 20 Cards, Case 2nd Edition

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Circa 1843 - 1845 Hand-colored CARD GAME of DR. BUSBY, 20 Cards & Case, 2 nd EditionComplete set of 20 cardsThis edition with a green cloth-covered cardboard sleeve that holds the cards was published by W. & S.B. Ives, Salem, Mass. The copyright by W. & S.B. Ives on the box appears to be 1812, but that date doesn't make sense given the history of the game. (See below.)Condition: Staining. The paper label on the case is torn on front and hard to read on the back.Each hand-colored card is printed on one side only and measures 3 5/8" by 2 "".There is a lot of information about this game on the Internet, including the following:https:///worthopedia/1843-game-dr-busby-sb-ives-1st-card-198267841The game was first invented by Miss Anne W. Abbott of Beverly, Massachusetts in 1843. W. & S.B. Ives then acquired the rights from her, called it THE IMPROVED AND ILLUSTRATED GAME OF DR. BUSBY and started mass producing, marketing and selling as a sideline to their stationary business. This was the starting point of games for W. & S.B Ives of Salem, Massachusetts and they are now credited with being the first major manufacturer of games in this country and this was the first card game mass printed and published in America. According to the Alex G. Malloy American Games Comprehensive Collectors Guide, W. and S.B. Ives printed four editions of this game and this is the first printing had a beige box and cards with small symbols ( the 2nd edition had a green box and cards with small symbols ; 3rd edition was green box and large symbols on the cards and the 4th edition was published in conjunction with Milton Bradley; pictures of all the editions can be seen on page 242 of his Guide).https:///inventory/a-milestone-in-american-game-publishing/The game was developed by Beverly, Massachusetts native Anne W. Abbott (1808-1908), a game designer, author (primarily of books for children), editor and literary reviewer. It was published by the Salem, Massachusetts firm of W. and S.B. Ives, which was founded in 1823 by the brothers William and Stephen Ives and operated at least through 1853. The Ives brothers were printers, binders, booksellers and publishers, and their publications included among others the Salem Observer newspaper and Mansion of Happiness, often credited as the first American board game. They first advertised The Improved and Illustrated Game of Dr. Busby in the Salem Gazette for March 7, 1843. The game was wildly successful and purportedly sold 15,000 copies in the first eighteen months. It ultimately went through numerous editions well into the 20th century, many printed by the Ives firm but bearing the labels of game manufacturers such as Milton Bradley and the McLoughlin Brothers. "The website https:///boardgame/13571/game-dr-busby adds:Dr. Busby is the first game to sell so many copies, that it is considered as having started the game craze in the United States.HISTORY:According to the March 7, 1843 Salem Gazette newspaper, The Improved and Illustrated Game Of Dr. Busby was first published by W. & S. B. Ives of Salem, Massachusetts and went on sale that date. In the May 1843 Boys and Girls magazine, the components of the first edition were described: a gold embossed thumb-hole cloth (maroon) case with printed instructions card (yellow) and four sets of 5 cards, each set outlined in a different color: brown for the Busby family, red for the Doll (the dairymaid) family, yellow for the Ninny-come-twitch family, and blue for the Gardner's family.S(tephen). B. Ives continued to hold the Ives' games copyrights after he and his brother William dissolved the business in April, 1854 (as mentioned in William's newspaper, The Salem Observer).Stephen's son, Henry P. Ives partnered with A. Augustus Smith to take over the business until Henry bought Smith out in 1861 according to the 1861 Salem directory.All our items are guaranteed to be as described. Buyer pays shipping, handling, and sales tax. I use eBay Managed Pay... read more

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