Sunday, June 30, 2013

Game On: Vintage Board Games Bring Back Childhood Memories

Grandma's linen closet housed more than dainty tea towels and perfectly folded guest sheets. It was the place where she tucked her ambitious 5,000 piece jig-saw puzzles and for her grandchildren, a fine selection of board games. Sorry, Parcheesi and Monopoly were among our favorites and provided hours of rolling, dealing and giggling, while Grandma worked her crosswords puzzles and guessed the words on Wheel of Fortune. Once my own children were old enough for games, I delighted in sharing some childhood favorites with them and was amazed at how something so simple could bring back such wonderful and powerful memories.

Vintage board games are a hot collectible item, even with most of the games available in updated versions at many discount retailers. Perhaps it's nostalgia or the little kid in all of us that gets giddy at the familiar sight of our beloved board games. Regardless of current availability, some oldies are just better than their contemporary counterparts, and board game suppliers rank high on the list of vintage collectibles worth hunting for. If you're looking to start, or add to, a board game collection, here are some tips to get the most for your money:

Surface Inspection

It's hard to imagine that a board game for children would have an intact box after years of use and storage, but vintage games were made with sturdier material than the games on shelves today. Depending on the age, some scuff marks are to be expected and some wear and tear around the corners of the box are common as well. Ripped, torn or water damaged boxes fetch a lower price, but it's still worth inspecting what's inside the box if it's a game you've been looking for!

Bits and Pieces

Opening up a board game is extremely important, and you should be leery of any seller that will not open a game that's been taped up upon request. Taking a peek inside is the only way to ensure the game has all its necessary components. Some games require you to be fairly knowledgeable about all the pieces needed to play, but some are easy enough to figure out on your own. If you're looking at a vintage Sorry game, for example, it's easy to see that all the colors require four of each to play the game. For the true treasure hunter, a game with missing pieces can still be an excellent buy as you just might find some stray pieces on future excursions. If it's a game you really want, you may want to take a chance on hunting down the missing pieces to complete the set.

Instructions or No?

Intact instructions with a board game can be the icing on the cake, however most game instructions can be found online quite easily. If you're collecting games for the joy of playing them with your children or grandchildren, instructions may not be necessary, but for the serious collector of vintage games, instructions that originally came with the game make the piece more valuable.

Whether you're on the hunt for a specific beloved board game from the archives of your childhood memories, or simply love the simplicity of this popular collectible, vintage board games are one hot item to keep your eye on.

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