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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