1910 Saussine Pictorial Map and Game Board of Belgium, Early Automobiles

Game Map from Belgium's Early Automotive Age.

This is a c. 1910 uncirculated board game map of Belgium prepared by the Parisian game maker Saussine. It reflects the curiosity and enthusiasm of the early automobile age, as well as Belgium's prominent role in the burgeoning industry.

A Closer Look

The map covers Belgium with its provinces color-shaded. French placenames are employed throughout, thus Anvers instead of Antwerp, Bruxelles instead of Brussels, and so on. Illustrations mostly relate to gameplay, depicting automobiles (in operation or facing various issues), horses, and workers repairing roads. A winding path leads players from Anvers (Antwerp) throughout the country (and briefly into Luxembourg) before reaching the terminus in Brussels. At points, players can skip ahead or be sent back to an earlier place.

Though missing here, a complete example of the game that came to auction in France in 2024 included lead automobile pieces for each player to use as well as a set of cards, dice, and play money, though unfortunately, no instructions.

Early Automobile Age in Belgium

Belgium was an active participant in the early automobile age, thanks in part to the Belgian engineer and racing driver Camille Jenatzy (1868 - 1913), who shattered the world land speed record in 1899. Maneuvering his custom electric, torpedo-shaped car, La Jamais Contente, Jenatzy became the first human to break the 100 km/h (62 mph) barrier. This high-profile triumph spotlighted Belgium's mechanical prowess and ignited a domestic industrial boom. By the mid-1900s, the relatively small nation boasted a dense ecosystem of automobile builders, eventually peaking at nearly 200 distinct marques, as factories across Brussels, Liège, and Antwerp eagerly pivoted toward the 'horseless carriage.' The fact that this game depicts Belgium despite being intended for a French (and maybe French-speaking Belgian) audience might be a direct reflection of Jenatzy's accomplishments and their resonance throughout Europe.

Between 1900 and 1910, Belgian automakers increasingly distinguished themselves by specializing in high-end, robustly engineered luxury vehicles. Legendary brands like Minerva (which transitioned from bicycles to high-end cars around 1904), Métallurgique, Excelsior, Pipe, and Fabrique Nationale earned international acclaim for their prestige and mechanical refinement. Because the local Belgian market was too small to absorb such premium manufacturing, these firms relied heavily on foreign trade, exporting 75%of their vehicles to wealthy clients in Great Britain, France, and the United States. The industry was, however, setback significantly by World War I (1914 - 1918) and the German occupation, which included wholesale industrial theft for German war purposes.

Chromolithography

Chromolithography, sometimes called oleography, is a color lithographic technique developed in the mid-19th century. The process uses multiple lithographic stones, one for each color, to yield a rich composite effect. Generally, a chromolithograph begins with a black basecoat upon which subsequent colors are layered. Some chromolithographs used 30 or more separate lithographic stones to achieve the desired effect. Chromolithograph color can be blended for even more dramatic results. The process became extremely popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries when it emerged as the dominant method of color printing. The vivid color chromolithography made it exceptionally effective for advertising and propaganda.

Publication History and Census

This game map was designed by the Parisian game maker Saussine. It is undated, but from the style and the automobiles present, it likely dates to c. 1910 or perhaps a bit earlier. We have been unable to locate any cataloged examples.

Cartographer

Léon Saussine (unknown-1896) founded Saussine editions in 1860 and directed the company until his death in 1896, when he was succeeded by his widow and his sons. Saussine games published several types of games, including magnetic games. In 1878 Léon Saussine exhibited at the Exposition Universelle (World's Fair) in Paris.   Further Details...

Condition

Very good. Closed margin tears professionally repaired on verso.