1807 Klinger Geographicual Game: Cinq Parties du Monde

A stunning 1807 geographical game by Johann Georg Klinger and Johann Wolfgang Müller. It is among the most interesting and complex geographical games we have encountered. The beautifully produced game features 37 (35 present) cards, a game board, and instructions detailing how it can be played in three increasingly complex modes. The most advanced involved strategic planning of global commerce. As such, it could appeal to and delight children of all ages.

A Closer Look

The game is cleverly contained within its original box with engraved titling and marbled papers. There is an unusual pyramid shaped game board. There are five colored paper slipcases, each containing a finely engraved map and cards (captioned in both German and French) for the relevant region: Europe (6), Asia (8 of 10), Africa (4), America (8), and Australia (4). Each card is 3.5 x 4 inches. In addition, there is a printed 127-page volume describing the people and places illustrated. The box also contains a 4-page instruction manual. Some examples also have a double hemisphere world map, but this is not present here.

Gameplay

Gameplay is involved and complex, with the game capable of being played in 3 different ways, depending on the sophistication of the players. In general players roll dice to and draw geographical cards to determine movements between countries and continents. At each location, players must recapitulate descriptions of inhabitants and/or geography based on the included miniature volume Description de differens Peuples remarquables des cinq parties du Monde. Geographical knowledge is adjudicated for quality, before additional money or tokens are traded to move forward.

Publication History and Census

This game was a collaboration of geographer Johann Georg Klinger and gamemaker Johann Wolfgang Müller. The German first edition was introduced in 1801 as Reisen in die V Erdtheile. Beschreibung verschiedener merkwürdiger Völkerschaften in den fünf Welttheilen nebst Abbildung ihrer Nationaltrachten. The present example is the 2nd edition, 1807. We are aware of subsequent editions in 1811 and 1813. Most editions were issued from Nuremburg, but we also note examples bearing Turin and Paris imprints.

Despite being popular in its heyday, the game is now very rare. We note examples at the Universiteit van Amsterdam (1801), Princeton (two copies of the 1811), and the Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin (1813). Scarce on the market.